BXS2.40 

N5A87 


*  • 


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A 


4 


MEMORIALS 


OF 


METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY, 


FROM  THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THE  FIRST  SOCIETY  IN  THE  STATE  IN 
1770,  TO  THE  COMPLETION  OF  THE  FIRST  TWENTY 
YEARS  OF  ITS  HISTORY. 


CONTAINING 


SKETCHES  OF  THE  MINISTERIAL  LABORERS,  DIS¬ 
TINGUISHED  LAYMEN,  AND  PROMINENT 

-x.  ' 

SOCIETIES  OF  THAT  PERIOD. 

By  Rev.  JOHN  ATKINSON, 

OF  THE  NEWARK  ANNUAL  CONFERENCE. 


PHILADELPHIA  : 

PERKINPINE  &  HIGGINS, 

No.  56  NORTH  FOURTH  STREET. 

1860. 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1860,  by 


PERKINPINE  &  HIGGINS, 

in  the  Clerk’s  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Eastern  District  of 

Pennsylvania. 


WILLIAM  W.  HARDING,  STEREOTYPER. 


C.  SHERMAN  &  SON,  PRINTERS. 


PREFACE. 


This  work  consists  of  such  important  facts  and  incidents 
connected  with  the  rise  and  progress  of  Methodism  in  New 
Jersey,  within  the  first  twenty  years  of  its  history,  as  could  be 
obtained  at  this  late  day,  and  of  sketches  of  most  of  the  min¬ 
isters  who  labored  in  the  State  during  that  period,  and  of 
several  of  the  more  prominent  and  influential  laymen.  I  can¬ 
not  claim  to  have  gathered  all,  or  even  a  considerable  portion, 
of  the  facts  illustrative  of  the  work  and  of  the  laborers  during 
those  early  years ;  hut  I  have  attempted  to  do  what  could  be 
done  towards  rescuing  such  as  were  still  within  reach,  but 
which  were  rapidly  passing  down  the  current  of  time  into  ob¬ 
livion’s  unfathomable  depths.  The  ministers  of  that  period 
have  all  passed  away,  and  with  them  have  perished  many  im¬ 
portant  reminiscences  of  their  labors  and  of  the  early  trials 
and  triumphs  of  the  Church.  But  very  few  of  the  laity  who 
lived  and  prayed  in  those  chivalric  times  yet  linger  behind 
their  associates  who  have  gone  to  heaven,  and,  consequently, 
the  material  for  such  a  work  was  meagre.  But  I  have  gleaned 

from  nearly  every  available  source  such  facts  as  would  tend  to 

3 


4 


PREFACE. 


throw  light  upon  those  early  years  of  our  history,  and  I  have 
succeeded  in  rescuing  many  which  otherwise  would,  in  all  pro¬ 
bability,  have  soon  been  irrecoverably  lost.  I  deeply  regret 
that  this  effort  was  not  made  sooner.  Had  it  been  attempted 
twenty-five  years  ago,  preachers  who  were  prominent  in  the 
struggles  of  that  day  might  have  been  consulted,  and  their  re¬ 
collections  would  have  greatly  enriched  such  a  work,  and  been 
of  incalculable  worth  to  the  Church.  But  for  this,  alas  !  it  is 
now  too  late ;  yet  wisdom  dictates  that  we  should  make  haste 
to  gather  what  still  remains  to  remind  us  of  the  labors,  sacri¬ 
fices,  and  successes  of  our  fathers.  The  period  immediately 
following  that  embraced  in  this  volume  is  within  the  recollec¬ 
tion  of  some  yet  living,  and  no  time  should  be  lost  in  gather¬ 
ing  such  reminiscences  from  them  as  may  be  of  service  in  a 
subsequent  work,  by  whomsoever  it  may  be  prepared.  Fifty 
years  hence  such  data  will  be  invaluable. 

As  the  period  about  which  I  have  written  is  so  remote,  I 
have  had  to  rely  mainly  upon  printed  documents  for  authority. 
The  books  and  periodicals  from  which  the  larger  portion  of 
the  material  for  this  volume  has  been  derived  are,  to  a  con¬ 
siderable  extent,  entirely  beyond  the  reach  of  the  general 
reader ;  many  of  the  more  important  of  them  having  long 
been  out  of  print,  and  could  not  be  purchased  for  any  price 
whatsoever.  In  addition  to  this  I  have  gathered  from  original 
sources  very  important  data,  which  have  never  appeared  in 
print  before.  Such  as  it  is,  the  work  is  sent  forth  with  the 
humble  hope  and  the  ardent  prayer  that  it  may  be  an  instru¬ 
ment  of  blessing  to  such  as  may  read  it. 

I  am  greatly  indebted  for  important  favors  in  the  prepara¬ 
tion  of  the  work  to  Rev.  Drs.  Whedon  and  Porter  of  Newark, 


PREFACE. 


Ex.  Gov.  Fort,  New  Egypt,  N.  J.,  Revs.  H.  B.  Beegle,  F.  A. 
Morrell,  and  G.  R.  Snyder  of  the  New  Jersey  Conference, 
Rev.  Dr.  Roberts,  Baltimore,  Rev.  John  Lee,  West  Bloomfield, 
N.  J.,  Revs.  E.  W.  Adams  and  J.  P.  Daily  of  the  Newark 
Conference,  and  others.  I  would  also  gratefully  acknowledge 
my  obligations  to  Rev.  S.  H.  Opdyke,  A.M.  for  kindly  ex¬ 
amining  most  of  the  work  before  it  was  stereotyped,  and  for 
valuable  suggestions. 


.  . 

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>  « 


1 


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* 

' 


_ 


■ 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAGE 

Rise  op  Methodism  in  New  Jersey.  John  Early — His  son,  the  Rev. 
William  Early — Capt.  Thomas  Webb  of  the  British  army — Wesley’s 
opinion  of  him — The  elder  Adams’  testimony  concerning  him — His 
death,  Dec.  20,  1796,  aetat.  72 — Joseph  Toy — Rev.  Mr.  Asbury — His 
unwearied  and  successful  labors — Mr.  Toy  removes  to  Maryland — 

His  death,  Jan.  28,  182(J .  25 

CHAPTER  II. 

Progress  op  the  work  until  the  first  Conference.  Asbury  at 
New  Mills  and  Burlington — Foundation  laid  of  a  ‘"'preaching  house” 

— Benjamin  Abbott — His  remarkable  dreams  and  conversion — Inter¬ 
view  with  a  Presbyterian  clergyman . . .  50 

CHAPTER  III. 

The  first  Conference.  Asbury  in  Philadelphia— Conference  held  in 
Philadelphia  in  the  summer  of  1773 — Rules  adopted  by  Conference — 

John  King  and  AVilliam  Watters — Philip  Gatch — His  conversion  and 
earnest  work — Conversion  of  Mrs.  Abbott .  65 


7 


8 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

PAGE 

The  work  in  1774.  Conference  held  in  Philadelphia,  May  25,  1774- 
William  Watters,  the  first  native  American  Methodist  preacher — His 
ministerial  labors — Errors  of  Whitworth  and  Ebert — Persecution  of 
Gateh — His  death .  82 


CHAPTER  V . 

Dark  days  in  the  history  of  New  Jersey  Methodism.  Conference 
of  1775 — Daniel  Ruff — Freeborn  Garrettson — William  Duke — Spirit¬ 
ual  triumphs  of  Abbott — His  dispute  with  a  Presbyterian  minister 
and  elders — Conference  held  in  Baltimore,  May  21,  1776  — John 
Cooper — Sufferings  of  Jerseymen  during  the  Revolutionary  war — 
Conference  held  at  Deer  Creek,  Harford  Co.,  Md. — Return  of  all  the 
English  preachers,  except  Asbury,  to  England,  1778 — Persecution  and 
Sufferings  of  Asbury— Conference  held  at  Leesburg,  Va.,  May  19, 

1778 — Was  Abbott  a  fanatic?  —  Two  Conferences  (Northern  and 
Southern)  held  in  1779 — Northern  Conference  held  in  Kent  Co.,  Del. 

— Case  of  Achsah  Borden — Philip  Cox — Joshua  Dudley — Reflections.  97 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Methodism  in  New  Mills.  First  Church  built  in  New  Jersey  at 
Greenwich,  Gloucester  Co. — Third  church,  New  Mills — Jacob  Heis- 
er — Governor  Fort’s  remarks  concerning  him .  142 

CHAPTER  VII. 

James  Sterling.  Marries  Miss  Shaw — Is  converted  under  Asbury — 
Embarks  his  all  in  the  Revolution — His  large  benevolence — Dies 
Jan.  6,  1S18,  mtat.  75 . .'. .  152 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Dawning  of  brighter  days.  Conference  meets  in  Baltimore,  April 
24,  1780 — The  connection  of  New  Jersey  with  Philadelphia  ceases — 


CONTENTS. 


0 


FADE 

William  Gill — Opinion  of  Dr.  Rush  of  Philadelphia  in  regard  to 
him — Ilis  poverty — John  James — Anecdote  of  Capt.  Sears — Richard 
Garretson — George  Mair — Pleasing  love-feast  at  a  Quarterly  meeting 
— Speeches  on  that  occasion — Letter  of  Uzal  Ogden  to  George  Mair..  165 

CHAPTER  IX. 

The  work  and  laborers  in  1781.  Conference  held  at  Choptank,  Del., 
April  16,  1781 — New  Jersey  divided  into  two  circuits,  West  and  East 
— Thomas  Ware — He  is  converted  under  Mr.  Pedicord — Interview 
with  Bishop  Asbury,  vrho  persuades  him  to  enter  upon  the  work — 
Caleb  B.  Pedicord  — Execution  of  Molliner — Pedicord’s  letter  to 
Ware — His  letter  to  a  young  lady — His  death — Joseph  Cromwell — His 
lamentable  fall — James  0.  Cromwell — Henry  Metcalf .  189 

CHAPTER  X. 

Progress  of  the  work  in  1782.  Conference  held  at  Ellis’s  preaching 
house,  Va.,  April  17,  1782 — Society  in  Lower  Penn’s  Neck — Narrow 
escape  of  Abbott — Anecdote  of  Catharine  Casper — Case  of  Phillis  the 
slave . . .  221 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Methodism  in  Salem.  First  Methodist  society  formed  there,  1782 — 
Benjamin  Abbott,  the  most  distinguished  hero  of  Methodism  in 
Salem  Co. — Society  at  Quinton’s  Bridge — First  meeting-house  in 
Salem,  1784 — Terrible  death  of  an  actress .  232 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Sketches  of  preachers.  William  Watters — Particulars  of  his  con¬ 
version —  Mr.  Pillmore — Richard  Ivy — John  Tunnell — His  excel¬ 
lence  and  gifts - Joseph  Everett — His  resolute  spirit — His  conver¬ 
sion  and  zealous  labors — His  triumphant  death .  242 


10 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

FA.QX 

Incidents  And  labors.  Conference  held  at  Ellis’s  preaching  house, 

Va.,  May  6,  1783 — Early  Methodism  in  Atlantic  Co. — Rev.  Uzal 
Ogden  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church — His  letter  to  Bishop  As- 
bury — His  work  on  “Revealed  Religion.” .  282 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Methodism  in  Flanders.  Mary  Bell  the  first  Methodist  there — David 
Moore,  leader  of  its  first  class — His  death,  Dec.  15,  1827 — Reminis¬ 
cences  of  Early  Methodism  in  Flanders,  by  Rev.  E.  W.  Adams — Old 
church  substituted  by  a  new  one,  1857 .  294 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Sketches  op  Preachers.  Samuel  Rowe — James  Thomas — Francis 
Spry — William  Ringold— AVoolman  Hickson  —  Ogden’s  letters  to 
Hickson — Methodism  introduced  into  Brooklyn,  L.  I.,  by  Hickson — 

John  Magary .  303 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  ecclesiastical  year  1784-5.  Conference  held  at  Ellis’s  preach¬ 
ing  house,  Va.,  April  30,  1784 — Flight  of  the  Puritans  from  England 
to  America,  1625 — Methodism  now  introduced  into  Elizabethtown, 

N.  J. — Elias  Crane— John  Haggerty — Mr.  Morrell — Organization  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  America  as  an  independent  eccle¬ 
siastical  body — Thomas  Coke  and  Asbury  first  Bishops — The  Christ¬ 
mas  Conference — Samuel  Dudley — William  Phoebus — William  Par¬ 
tridge — John  Fidler — John  Hagerty — Matthew  Greentree .  315 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Results  and  laborers.  Three  Conferences  held  in  1785 — Third 
Conference  held  in  Baltimore,  June  1 — John  Walker — George  Shad- 


CONTENTS. 


11 


PAGE 

ford,  first  preacher  in  Mount  Holly — “  Old  Drusy” — Eli  Budd — An¬ 
ecdotes  of  Abbott — Society  organized  on  Staten  Island — Thomas  S. 
Chew— Thomas  Ware — Robert  Sparks — Adam  Cloud — Robert  Cloud 
— John  M’Claskey — Jacob  Brush .  340 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Prospects,  results,  and  laborers.  Membership  of  New  Jersey  in 
1786,  1259,  the  result  of  15  years’  labor — Appointments  in  1786 — 
Rencounter  of  Mr.  Cloud  with  a  Baptist  clergyman — The  Hutchin- 
sons — Asbury’s  continued  labors — Building  of  a  Chapel  at  Lower 
Penn’s  Neck — Col.  William  M’Cullough — Asbury  Church — Thomas 
Vasey — Robert  Cann — John  Simmons — Jacob  Lurton  —  Ezekiel 
Cooper — Stevens’s  portraiture  of  him .  358 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Labors  and  Laborers,  1787.  Bishop  Asbury’s  incursions  into  New 
Jersey — Thomas  Foster — Thomas  Morrell — Nathaniel  B.  Mills — 
Simon  Pylo — Curnelius  Cook .  379 


CHAPTER  XX. 

The  Ecclesiastical  year  1788.  Burlington,  the  first  place  in  New 
Jersey  in  which  Methodism  was  established — Church  erected — Jesse 
Lee — His  spirit  in  combating  Calvinism — His  doubts  and  distress — 
Enlisted  in  the  cause  by  Bishop  Asbury — Nearly  elected  a  bishop  in 
1800 — Boehm’s  description  of  his  end — Aaron  Hutchinson — His  po¬ 
etic  tendencies — John  Lee — His  remarkable  death — Jethro  Johnson 
— John  Merrick — Two  John  Coopers .  393 


12 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

PAGE 

The  work  and  the  laborers  in  1789.  Conference  for  New  Jersey 
district  held  at  Trenton,  May  23,  1789 — Mr.  Whatcoat,  afterwards 
bishop — Interesting  anecdotes  of  Sylvester  Hutchinson — His  location 
— His  death,  Nov.  11,  1840 — His  epitaph — Daniel  Combs — William 
Jackson — Richard  Swain — Testimony  to  his  abundant  labors,  by  his 
brethren — End .  420 


MEMORIALS  OF 


METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER  I. 

RISE  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

When  the  Wesleyan  reformation  began  to  spread  over 
New  Jersey,  it  was  exceedingly  small  and  feeble.  A 
Methodist  in  those  days,  was  a  rare  phenomenon.  The 

■v 

first  of  this  sect,  of  whom  we  have  any  information,  was 
John  Early,  a  native  of  Ireland,  where  he  was  born  in 
the  year  1738.  He  immigrated  to  this  country  in  1764, 
and  settled  in  New  Jersey.  Somewhere  between  this 
period  and  1770,  as  near  as  can  be  determined  by  the 
record,*  he  embraced  the  doctrines  of  the  Gospel  as 
presented  by  Methodism ;  but  whether  there  was  at  that 
time  any  regular  Methodist  society  in  the  province  can¬ 
not  be  affirmed.  However,  he  lived  respected  and  use¬ 
ful  in  the  communion  of  the  church  of  his  choice  for 

*  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal,  1829,  p.  160. 


25 


26  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

about  sixty  years,  when  he  died  at  the  advanced  age  of 
four  score  and  ten. 

He  resided  in  Gloucester  county,  and  for  forty  years 
filled  the  offices  of  class  leader  and  steward  on  the  cir¬ 
cuit  to  which  he  belonged.  He  wTas  a  consistent  Chris¬ 
tian,  a  faithful  friend,  an  obliging  neighbor,  a  kind 
husband,  and  a  fond  parent — devoted  to  the  interests 
and  welfare  of  those  whom  Providence  had  committed 
to  his  care.  His  long  life  of  fidelity  contributed  much, 
doubtless,  to  the  prosperity  of  the  cause  of  Christ  in  the 
region  where  he  lived;  and  in  the  history  of  Methodism 
in  the  State,  his  example  appears  like  a  lone  star  shining 
in  a  clear  place  in  the  heavens,  and  shedding  its  serene 
effulgence  upon  the  darkness,  clouds,  and  tempest  of  a 
dreary  and  fearful  night. 

While  he  was  one  of  the  first  in  Hew  Jersey  to  iden¬ 
tify  himself  with  the  people  called  Methodists,  he  also 
gave,  at  an  early  and  trying  period  in  the  history  of  the 
denomination,  a  son  to  the  itinerant  ministry  of  the 
Church.  That  son,  the  Rev.  William  Early,  remem¬ 
bering  his  Creator  in  the  days  of  his  youth,  entered  upon 
the  arduous  life  of  an  itinerant  at  the  age  of  twenty-one. 
In  1791,  by  appointment  of  the  Hew  York  Conference, 
he  bore  the  cross  into  the  wdlds  of  Hova  Scotia  and  Hew 
Brunswick.  He  prosecuted  his  mission  there  about  two 
years,  during  which  time  he  traveled  extensively  through 


RISE  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


27 


those  provinces,  encountering  great  difficulties,  perform¬ 
ing  severe  labors,  and  suffering  persecution  for  Christ’s 
sake.  He  was  arrested  and  imprisoned,  hut  when  re¬ 
leased  he  went  on  his  way  rejoicing  in  God,  and  preach¬ 
ing  to  the  people  the  glorious  Gospel  of  Christ.  He 
traveled  in  New  Brunswick  in  the  winter  on  foot,  bear¬ 
ing  his  saddle  bags  upon  his  back.  When,  in  1793,  he 
left  that  region,  he  had  become  so  reduced  in  his  pecu¬ 
niary  resources  that  he  could  not  command  enough 
means  to  pay  his  passage  from  St.  Johns  to  New  York, 
until  he  sold  his  saddle  bags  and  a  pair  of  shoes.  Though 
in  his  father’s  house  in  New  Jersey  there  was  “bread 
enough  and  to  spare,”  yet  as  a  stranger  in  a  strange 
land,  whither  he  had  gone  to  carry  the  bread  of  life  to 
the  perishing,  in  addition  to  his  other  trials  he  was  sub¬ 
jected  to  the  stern  pressure  of  absolute  poverty. 

He  continued  to  labor  within  the  bounds  of  the  Phila¬ 
delphia  Conference,  part  of  the  time  as  a  located  minis¬ 
ter,  but  chiefly  in  the  itinerancy,  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  on  the  first  day  of  June  1821.  He  was  the 
victim  of  pulmonary  disease,  and  endured  great  affliction 
in  his  last  days.  Several  of  his  brethren  occasionally 
visited  him,  and  generally  found  him  happy  in  the  love 
of  his  Saviour.  In  the  full  assurance  of  faith,  rejoicing 
in  hope  of  the  glory  hereafter  to  be  revealed,  he  met 
death  in  triumph  and  departed  in  peace.  He  was  a  wor- 


28  MEMORIALS  OP  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

thy  son  of  New  Jersey  Methodism,  whom  she  early  gave 
to  labor,  suffer,  and  triumph  in  the  missionary  and  itin¬ 
erant  field.  His  works  follow  him,  and  his  record  is  on 
high. 

But  Methodism,  in  its  ecclesiastical  form,  owes  its  origin 
in  New  Jersey,  under  God,  to  the  labors  of  a  local 
preacher,  an  officer  in  the  British  army,  Captain  Thomas 
Webb.  The  first  Methodist  society  in  the  city  of  New 
York  was  formed  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1766,  by 
Philip  *Embury,  a  local  preacher  who  had  emigrated  from 
Ireland  about  six  years  previously.  The  infant  society 
was  soon  joined  by  the  zealous  captain,  who  was  as 
brave  a  soldier  of  the  cross  as  he  was  of  his  king.  He 
soon  proceeded  to  Philadelphia,  and  lifted  the  standard 
of  Methodism  in  that  city  and  formed  the  first  class 
there  in  1767  or  1768.*  As  New  Jersey  lies  between 
these  two  cities,  and  its  upper  territory  is  close  adjacent 
to  the  former,  and  its  southern  to  the  latter  city,  it  is  to 
be  presumed  that  those  earnest  pioneers  of  Methodism 
would  not  long  prosecute  their  mission  without  carrying 
their  message  of  mercy  to  its  inhabitants. 

Accordingly  we  find  Captain  Webb  preaching  justifi¬ 
cation  by  faith  in  the  town  of  Burlington,  New  Jersey, 
as  early  as  the  year  1770.  It  is  probable,  indeed, 
that  he  preached  in  the  province  at  a  little  earlier 

*  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal,  1829,  p.  120. 


RISE  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


29 


period  than  this,  hut  in  that  year  he  was  stationed  in 
Burlington  on  duty,  and  preached  in  the  market  house 
and  in  the  court  house.*  On  the  14th  of  December 
1770,  he  formed  a  small  class,  and  appointed  Joseph  Toy, 
who  will  shortly  receive  more  particular  notice  in  our 
narrative,  its  leader.  Mr.  Toy  is,  probably,  entitled  to 
the  honor  of  being  the  first  class-leader  in  New  Jersey. 
As  Captain  Webb  laid  the  foundation  of  Methodism  in 
New  Jersey,  it  is  fitting  that  in  tracing  its  progress  to 
its  subsequent  commanding  position  and  influence,  the 
memorialist  should  pause  to  pay  a  respectful  and  grate¬ 
ful  tribute  to  his  character. 

He  was  a  lieutenant  under  Gen.  Wolfe  at  the  capture 
of  Quebec  in  1759,  where  he  received  a  wound  in  the 
arm,  and  lost  his  right  eye.  He  was  converted  under 
the  ministry  of  Rev.  John  Wesley,  after  enduring  severe 
mental  struggles  in  which  he  was  led  to  almost  despair 
of  the  divine  mercy.  This  happy  event  occurred  at 
Bath,  England,  about  the  year  1765.  He  joined  the 
Methodist  society,  and  soon  commenced  to  exercise  his 
gifts  as  a  public  speaker.  “  The  congregation  with  which 
he  was  waiting  being  disappointed  of  their  preacher,  he 
was  called  upon  to  address  them,  which  he  did  with  such 
acceptance  as  soon  to  induct  him  into  the  office  of  a  local 
preacher.  Soon  after  this  event  he  was  appointed  Bar- 

*  Methodist  Magazine,  182G,  p.  438. 

2 


30  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

rack-master  in  Albany,  in  the  province  of  New  York, 
whither  he  immediately  removed  with  his  family.  Here, 
establishing  ‘a  church  in  his  own  house,’  several  of  his 
neighbors  desired  permission  to  be  present  at  his  family 
worship,  which  was  granted.  To  these  he  soon  adopted 
the  practice  of  addressing  a  word  of  exhortation  ;  and 
thus  Albany  became  one  of  the  first  scenes  for  the  dis¬ 
play  of  Wesleyan  zeal  and  devotion,  although  with  no 
immediate  results.  Being  in  New  York  about  this  time, 
he  heard  of  the  little  society  under  Mr.  Embury,  and  in 
the  true  spirit  of  ‘a  soldier  of  the  cross,’  he  was  not 
ashamed  of  the  great  difference  between  their  social  po¬ 
sition  and  his  own,  and  sought  them  out.”* 

One  day,  while  they  were  engaged  in  worship  in  a 
room  they  had  rented  for  that  purpose,  near  the  barracks, 
“  the  most  infamous  part  of  the  city,”  they  were  sur¬ 
prised  by  the  appearance  of  a  dignified  figure  in  the 
midst  of  them,  in  the  uniform  of  a  British  officer.  At 
first  his  presence  caused  them  some  alarm,  but  they  soon 
observed  that  he  knelt  in  prayer  with  them,  and  paid  due 
regard  to  all  the  proprieties  of  the  place  and  the  occasion. 
He  at  once  made  himself  known  to  them,  and  “  this 
event  constituted  an  era  in  their  progress.” 

He  now  opened  his  spiritual  mission  in  New  York,  and 
boldly  proclaimed  the  gospel  to  the  people.  “  The  nov- 

*  Rev.  S.  W.  Coggeshall  in  Methodist  Quarterly  Review,  Oct.,  1855. 


RISE  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


31 


elty  of  a  man  in  regimentals,  with  his  sword  and  chapeau 
laid  at  his  side,  preaching  the  gospel  of  peace,  immedi¬ 
ately  attracted  crowds  to  hear.”*  He  united,  in  an  emi¬ 
nent  degree,  the  more  noble  characteristics  of  the  sol¬ 
dier  with  the  earnest  zeal  and  heroic  enthusiasm  of  the 
sect  to  which  he  belonged.  He  declared  to  his  auditors 
“  that  all  their  knowledge  and  religion  were  not  worth  a 
rush,  unless  their  sins  were  forgiven,  and  they  had  the 
witness  of  the  Spirit  with  theirs  that  they  were  the  child¬ 
ren  of  God.”  This  “increased  the  surprise  and  amaze¬ 
ment  of  some,  while  others,  more  thoughtful  and  consid¬ 
erate,  were  led  to  seek  this  pearl  of  great  price.”  He 
soon  went  forth  into  the  regions  beyond,  proclaiming  the 
word,  and  sowed  the  seed  of  Methodism  on  Long  Island 
and  elsewhere. 

It  is  not  known  with'certainty  how  long,  at  this  time, 
he  remained  in  this  country,  but  in  1772,  Mr.  Wesley, 
in  a  letter,  speaks  of  him  as  being  in  Dublin,  Ireland, 
and  says,  “He  is  a  man  of  fire,  and  the  power  of  God 
constantly  accompanies  his  word.”  In  1773,  he  also  speaks 
of  his  preaching  at  the  Foundry  Chapel  in  London,  and 
says,  “  I  admire  the  wisdom  of  God  in  still  raising  up 
various  preachers,  according  to  the  various  tastes  of  men. 
The  captain  is  all  life  and  fire;  therefore,  though  he  is 
not  deep  or  regular,  yet  many,  who  would  not  hear  a 

*  Rev.  S.  W.  Coggeshall  in  Methodist  Quarterly  Review,  Oct.  1855. 


32  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

better  preacher,  flock  together  to  hear  him.  And  many 
are  convinced  under  his  preaching,  some  justified,  a  few 
built  up  in  love.”  Ten  years  later  he  says,  Captain 
Webb  “lately  kindled  a  flame  here,”  (in  the  neighbor¬ 
hood  of  Bath,)  “  and  it  is  not  yet  gone  out.  Several 
persons  were  still  rejoicing  in  God.  I  found  his  preach¬ 
ing  in  the  street  of  Winchester  had  been  blessed  greatly. 
Many  were  more  or  less  convinced  of  sin,  and  several 
had  found  peace  with  God.  I  never  saw  the  house  so 
crowded  with  serious  and  attentive  hearers.”  In  1785, 
he  bears  similar  testimony  to  his  labors  and  usefulness. 

His  labors  were  productive  of  great  good  in  this 
country.-  An  incident  “connected  with  the  very  exist¬ 
ence”  of  Methodism  in  Schenectady,  New  York,  may 
be  properly  mentioned  here  as  an  illustration  of  the 
effect  produced  by  his  ministry.  “  Conversing  with  an 
aged  member  of  our  church  the  other  day,”  writes  Rev. 
George  Coles,  in  the  Christian  Advocate  of  February 
10,  1827,  “  I  had  the  curiosity  to  ask  him  when ,  where , 
and  how  he  was  first  convinced  of  sin,  &c.  He  informed 
me  that  a  Mr.  Van  Patten,  a  blacksmith,  was  the  means, 
in  the  hands  of  God,  of  opening  his  eyes.  Do  you 
know,  said  I,  how  the  blacksmith  was  awakened  ?  ‘  See¬ 

ing  a  black  man  die  happy  in  the  Lord,’  said  he.  Do 
you  know,  said  I,  how  the  black  man  came  by  his  serious 
impressions  ?  ‘  His  master  was  a  religious  man  and 


RISE  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


33 


taught  him  the  fear  of  the  Lord.’  And  where  did  he 
[the  master]  meet  with  his  conviction?  said  I.  ‘  Hear¬ 
ing  Captain  Webb  preach,’  said  he.  It  is  also  remarka¬ 
ble  that  this  aged  friend’s  mother  was  awakened  under 
Captain  Webb.” 

In  the  year  1774,  he  was  again,  as  we  shall  see,  in 
New  Jersey,  and  also  in  Philadelphia.  During  the  ses¬ 
sion  of  the  Continental  Congress  of  this  year,  the  elder 
Adams  heard  him  preach,  and  bears  a  high  tribute  to  his 
ability  as  a  public  speaker.  The  testimony  of  this  emi¬ 
nent  statesman  ought,  we  think,  to  go  far  towards  decid¬ 
ing  the  question  concerning  the  rank  his  mental  qualifi¬ 
cations  entitled  him  to  hold,  as  a  preacher  of  the  gospel. 
That  testimony  is  as  follows :  “  In  the  evening  I  went  to 
the  Methodist  meeting  and  heard  Mr.  Webb,  the  old  sol¬ 
dier,  who  first  came  to  America  in  the  character  of  a 
Quarter  Master,  under  General  Braddock.  He  is  one 
of  the  most  fluent,  eloquent  men  I  ever  heard ;  he 
reaches  the  imagination  and  touches  the  passions  very 
well,  and  expresses  himself  with  great  propriety.” 

Captain  Webb  possessed  a  clear  and  happy  experience 
of  Divine  things ;  yet  it  is  said  “  that  he  always  took 
care  to  guard  weak*believers  against  casting  away  their 
confidence,  because  they  could  not  always  realize  the 
same  bright  testimony  of  their  justification  by  faith  in 


34  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

Christ  with  which  he  had  been  so  highly  favored.”*  He 
was  accustomed  to  relate  his  own  Christian  experience  to 
illustrate  and  confirm  the  truths  he  proclaimed  respect¬ 
ing  experimental  piety. 

The  death  of  the  old  veteran  is  said  to  have  occurred 
suddenly.  “  Having  a  presentiment  of  his  approaching 
dissolution,  a  few  days  before  his  death  he  expressed  his 
wishes  to  a  friend  respecting  the  place  and  manner  of  his 
interment,  adding,  ‘  I  should  prefer  a  triumphant  death  ; 
but  I  may  die  suddenly.  However,  I  know  I  am  happy 
in  the  Lord  and  shall  be  with  him,  and  that  is  sufficient.’ 
A  little  after  10  o’clock  on  the  20th  of  December,  1796, 
after  taking  his  supper  and  praying  with  his  family ;  he 
went  to  his  bed  in  apparent  good  health ;  but  shortly  af¬ 
ter  his  breathing  became  difficult ;  he  arose  and  sat  at 
the  foot  of  the  bed;  but,  while  Mrs.  Webb  was  standing 
by  him,  he  fell  back  on  the  bed,  and  before  any  other 
person  could  be  called,  he  sunk  into  the  arms  of  death 
without  any  apparent  pain,  aged  72  years. ”f 

Thus  ended  the  labors  and  the  life  of  the  hero  of  the 
first  battle  of  Methodism  in  New  Jersey,  and  the  founder 
of  one  of  the  most  commanding  and  powerful  ecclesias¬ 
tical  structures  in  the  State.  His  name  and  virtues  de¬ 
serve  a  chief  place  in  the  registry  of  the  cause  upon  its 

*  Bang's  History  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  Yol.  2.  f  Ibid. 


RISE  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


35 


historical  records,  and  are  worthy  of  being  enshrined 
forever  in  the  hearts  of  New  Jersey  Methodists. 

Joseph  Toy,  who,  as  we  have  seen,  was  appointed 
leader  of  the  first  class  in  Burlington,  wms  horn  in  New 
Jersey,  April  24, 1748.  His  father,  who  was  a  descend¬ 
ant  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  province,  died  when  he 
was  a  child.  When  young,  he  was  placed  in  the  board¬ 
ing-school  of  Mr.  Thomas  Powell,  in  Burlington,  where 
he  remained  until  about  the  twentieth  year  of  his  age. 
While  there  his  mind  was  much  impressed  by  a  sermon 
delivered  by  a  clergyman  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church,  on  the  being  and  omnipresence  of  God.  These 
impressions  were  lasting.  Impelled  to  do  something  by 
which  he  might  obtain  deliverance  from  the  wrath  of  his 
Maker,  he  strictly  observed  the  claims  of  morality,  ex¬ 
pecting  by  his  works  lo  render  himself  acceptable  to 
God.  He  now  heard  the  gospel  from  the  lips  of  Captain 
Webb,  in  Burlington,  and  was  offended  at  first  at  the 
doctrine  which  he  preached.  He  was  unwilling  to  re¬ 
linquish  his  self-righteousness,  and  be  justified  by  faith 
alone.  At  length,  deeply  sensible  that  the  justification 
of  which  he  heard  was  necessary  to  his  happiness,  he 
sought  it  with  all  his  heart,  and  after  various  painful  ex¬ 
ercises,  he  obtained  a  sense  of  the  Divine  favor,  and 
rejoiced  therein  with  joy  unspeakable.  From  this  time 


36  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

he  felt  bound  to  devote  his  all  to  the  service  and  glory 
of  God. 

In  a  year  or  less  from  the  time  he  was  placed  in  the 
charge  of  the  class  in  Burlington,  he  removed  to  Tren¬ 
ton.  He  there  found  a  man  who  had  been  a  Methodist 
in  Ireland.  With  this  man  and  two  or  three  more,  he 
united,  and  agreeing  among  themselves,  they  met  to¬ 
gether  in  class.  Thus  was  formed  in  1771  the  first 
Methodist  society  in  the  city  of  Trenton,  the  most  prom¬ 
inent  member,  perhaps,  of  which,  was  the  result  of  Cap¬ 
tain  Webb’s  ministry. 

In  the  meantime,  the  feeble  band  in  Burlington  was 
cared  for.  The  first  place  in  New  Jersey  in  which  it 
appears  Asbury  preached,  was  that  town.  He  landed  in 
Philadelphia  from  a  port  near  Bristol,  England,  on  the 
27th  of  October,  1771.  On  the  7th  of  November,  he 
went  to  Burlington,  on  his  way  to  New  York,  “  and 
preached  in  the  Court-house  to  a  large,  serious  congrega¬ 
tion.”  He  felt  there,  he  says,  his  “heart much  opened.” 
He  proceeded  on  his  journey  to  New  York,  and  met  with 
one  P.  Van  Pelt,  who  had  heard  him  preach  in  Philadel¬ 
phia.  Mr.  Van  Pelt  resided  on  Staten  Island,  and  in¬ 
vited  him  to  his  house,  which  invitation  he  accepted,  and 
preached  at  his  house,  and  in  the  evening  at  the  house 
of  one  Justice  Wright,  where  he  had  a  large  company  to 
listen  to  the  word.  To  Asbury  therefore,  is  the  honor 


RISE  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


87 


due  of  first  sounding  the  trump  of  Methodism  on  that 
beautiful  and  fruitful  Island.  He  remained  labor¬ 
ing  in  New  York  and  vicinity,  until  the  21st  of  Feb¬ 
ruary,  1772,  when,  “  having  a  desire  to  see  his  friends 
on  Staten  Island,  he  set  off,  contrary  to  the  persuasion 
of  his  friends  in”  the  city.  He  was  received  and  kindly 
entertained  by  Justice  Wright  and  preached  at  Mr.  Van 
Pelt’s  “  to  a  few  persons  with  much  satisfaction.”  He 
was  invited  to  preach  in  the  house  of  one  Mr.  D.,  which 
he  did,  Justice  Wright  sending  him  “  there  on  the  Lord’s 
day  with  several  of  his  family.”  He  preached  twice  at 
that  gentleman’s  house  to  a  large  company.  u  Some,” 
he  says,  “  had  not  heard  a  sermon  for  half  a  year ;  such 
a  famine  there  is  of  the  word  in  these  parts,  and  a  still 
greater  one  of  th e  pure  word.”  He  returned  to  Justice 
Wright’s  in  the  evenidg,  “  and  preached  to  a  numerous 
congregation  with  comfort.”  He  says,  “  Surely  God 
sent  me  to  these  people  at  the  first,  and  I  trust  he  will 
continue  to  bless  them,  and  pour  out  his  Spirit  upon 
them,  and  receive  them  at  last  to  himself.”  He  preached 
three  times  more  on  the  Island,  and  then  on  his  way  to 
New  York  he  took  his  stand  at  the  Ferry,  and  preached 
“  to  a  few  people.” 

After  preaching  in  Amboy,  in  a  large  upper  room  to 
many  hearers,  in  which  he  “  was  much  favoured  in  his 
own  soul,”  and  receiving  evidences  of  respect  and  kind- 


38  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

ness  from  an  innkeeper  there,  he  started  on  the  27th 
of  February  for  Burlington.  He  rode  a  “  rough-gaited 
horse,”  by  whom  he,  was  “much  shaken,”  and  finding 
the  road  very  bad,  and  himself  and  horse  weary,  he 
stopped,  at  the  invitation  of  a  Quaker,  at  or  near  Cross¬ 
wicks,  on  whom  he  called  to  inquire  the  way,  and  lodged 
in  his  house.  He  was  treated  with  much  kindness  by 
his  host,  and  the  next  day  rode  to  Burlington,  “  very 
weary.”  The  day  following  was  the  Sabbath,  and  he 
preached  in  the  court-house  to  many  hearers. 

The  work  Avas  now  extending.  New  Mill,*  a  small 
village  several  miles  from  Burlington,  presented  its 
claims  upon  his  attention  and  labors,  and  accordingly 
he  rode  over  in  a  wagon  with  some  friends,  and  “preached 
in  a  Baptist  meeting-house,  and  was  kindly  received.” 
He-  remained  until  the  next  day,  when,  finding  the  peo¬ 
ple  were  divided  among  themselves,  he  preached  from  the 
words,  “  This  is  his  commandment,  that  we  should  be¬ 
lieve  on  the  name  of  his  Son,  Jesus  Christ,  and  love  one 
another.”  He  indulged  hope  that  his  labor  was  not  in 
vain.  He  returned  in  the  evening  to  Burlington. 

On  Wednesday,  the  29th  of  April,  we  again  find  him 
at  Burlington;  where  he  “found  the  people  very  lively.” 
“Two  persons,”  he  says,  “have  obtained  justification 
under  brother  W. ;  and  a  certain  Dr.  T - 1,  a  man  of 


*  Afterwards  called  Pemberton. 


RISE  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


39 


dissipation,  was  touched  under  brother  B.’s  sermon  last 
night.  I  admire  the  kindness  of  my  friends  to  such  a 
poor  worm  as  I.  0  my  God,  remember  them,  remem¬ 
ber  me.”  The  next  day  he  writes,  “  1  humbly  hope  the 
word  was  blest  to  a  large  number  of  people  who  attended 
while  I  preached  at  the  court-house.”  He  departed  to 
Philadelphia,  but  on  Tuesday  the  5th  of  May,  he  was 
again  in  Burlington.  He  preached  to  a  serious  people, 
but  felt  troubled  in  soul  that  he  was  not  more  devoted. 
“0  my  God,”  he  exclaims,  “my  soul  groans  and  longs 
for  this!”  On  the  day  following,  he  writes,  “  My  heart 
was  much  humbled  ;  but  the  Lord  enabled  me  to  preach 
with  power  in  my  soul !”  The  next  day  he  visited  some 
prisoners,  and  one  of  them,  who  was  to  be  tried  for  his 
life,  seemed  much  affected.  In  the  evening  he  preached 
“  and  felt,”  he  says,  '“my  heart  much  united  to  this 
people.”  The  next  morning  he  “set  off  for  Philadel¬ 
phia,”  hut  in  five  days  afterward,  we  again  find  him  in 
New  Jersey,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Greenwich,  where 
he  speaks  of  preaching  on  “  Behold  I  stand  at  the  door 
and  knock,”  and  says,  “Oh  what  a  time  of  power  was 
this  to  my  own  soul !”  After  this,  he  went  to  one  Mr. 
T.’s,  and  many  persons  assembled  at  eight  o’clock,  to 
whom  he  preached  with  life.  He  speaks  also  of  going 
“to  the  new  Church,”  and  after  preaching  with  great 
assistance,  lodged  at  I - c  J - s,  who  conducted  him 


40  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

in  the  morning  to  Gloucester,  whence  he  went  by  water 
to  Philadelphia.  If  this  new  Church  belonged  to  the 
Methodists,  it  is  probable  that  it  was  about  the  first  which 
they  erected  in  the  province. 

Asbury  was  one  of  the  first  preachers  that  visited  the 
little  society  at  Trenton  and  preached  to  them.  We 
find  him  there  proclaiming  his  message  on  Wednesday, 
the  20th  day  of  May,  1772;  and  he  says,  “As  the 
court  was  sitting,  I  was  obliged  to  preach  in  a  school- 
house  to  but  few  people  ;  and  as  there  were  soldiers  in 
the  town,  I  could  hardly  procure  lodging.”  The  few 
Methodists  who  resided  there  at  the  time  were  not,  it  is 
probable,  in  circumstances  to  furnish  very  superior 
entertainment  to  the  preachers. 

On  Sunday,  the  24th  of  May,  Asbury  was  again  in 
Greenwich,  and  preached  to  about  three  hundred  people 
who  had  assembled  from  different  parts.  In  the  after¬ 
noon,  at  three  o’clock,  he  preached  at  Gloucester,  to 
about  two  hundred  people,  and  then  went  up  the  river, 
in  a  boat,  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  preached  at  night. 
The  next  day  he  was  unwell,  but  went  to  Burlington,  and 
though  he  was  very  sick,  he  preached  in  the  evening. 
The  following  day  he  was  still  unwell ;  but,  ever  anxious 
to  obey  the  call  of  duty,  he  visited  a  prisoner  under  sen¬ 
tence  of  death,  and  “  strove  much  to  fasten  conviction 
on  his  heart.”  On  Wednesday  he  went  to  New  Mills, 


RISE  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


41 


where  he  preached  at  four  o’clock,  and  again  at  ten  the 
next  morning.  On  Friday,  he  wTas  at  the  execution, 
and  preached  under  the  jail-wall.  He  attended  the 
prisoner  to  the  place  of  execution.  “  When  he  came 
forth,  he  roared  like  a  bull  in  a  net.  He  looked  on 
every  side  and  shrieked  for  help.”  Asbury  prayed  with 
him  and  for  him,  but  he  says,  “  How  difficult  it  is  (if  I 
may  use  the  term)  to  drench  a  hardened  sinner  with 
religion!”  He  saw  him  “tied  up,”  and  then  stepping 
on  a  wagon,  he  “  warned  the  people  to  flee  from  the 
wrath  to  come,  and  improve  the  day  of  their  gracious 
visitation,  no  more  grieving  the  Spirit  of  God,  lest  a  day 
should  come  in  which  they  might  cry,  and  God  refuse  to 
hear  them.”  He  then  returned  to  Philadelphia,  where 
he  exhorted  in  the  evening. 

On  Tuesday,  the  2nd  of  June,  Asbury  is  again  in 
New  Jersey,  at  Haddonfield.  The  next  day  he  preached 
at  five  at  Mantua  Creek,  and  had  a  time  of  power. 
After  the  service  wras  over,  about  a  hundred  people  went 
to  Mr.  F.’s,  one  and  a  half  miles  off,  where  he  also 
“  preached  with  life.”  On  Thursday  he  was  at  Green¬ 
wich,  weak  in  body,  but  had  some  liberty  in  preaching 
to  about  two  hundred  willing  people  ;  “  but  at  Glouces-  % 
ter,”  he  says,  “  I  preached  only  to  a  few  dead  souls, 
from  this  striking  passage,  1  The  word  preached  did  not 
profit  them,  not  being  mixed  with  faith  in  them  that 


42  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

heard  it.’  ”  He  observes  that  in  this  journey  he  was 
kept  in  peace,  “  and  had  more  freedom,  life,  and  power 
than  ever  he  had  experienced  in  the  city.” 

On  Sunday,  the  Tth  of  June,  he  preached  and  held  a 
love-feast  in  Philadelphia,  and  {£  some  of  our  Jersey 
friends,”  he  says,  “  spoke  of  the  power  of  God  with 
freedom.”  The  next  day  he  proceeded  with  much  dis¬ 
agreeable  company  to  Trenton,  where  many  felt  the  Di¬ 
vine  power  accompanying  the  word  preached.’  Two 
days  afterwards,  he  returned  to  Philadelphia,  after  which 
he  visited  Bristol,  Pennsylvania,  and  on  returning,  he 
soon  proceeded  to  Burlington,  and  though  weak  and  in¬ 
firm  in  body,  he  preached  with  liberty.  lie  then  bent 
his  course  for  New  Mills,  groaning  for  more  life,  and 
desiring  to  reach  greater  attainments  in  holiness.  After 
preaching  there  twice,  he  returned  to  Burlington,  whence, 
after  spending  a  sick  night,  he  proceeded,  quite  unwell, 
to  Philadelphia.  A  few  days  afterward  he  walked  down 
to  Gloucester  Point,  and  then  rode  to  a  brother  C.’s,  and 
though  very  weak,  weary,  and  wet,  he  preached  with 
some  degree  of  power,  while  it  rained  very  hard,  to 
many  people  from  the  text,  “  As  the  rain  cometh  down, 
and  the  snow  from  heaven,  and  returneth  not  thither, 
but  water eth  the  earth,  and  maketh  it  bring  forth  and 
bud,  that  it  may  give  seed  to  the  sower  and  bread  to  the 
eater ;  so  shall  my  word  be  that  goeth  forth  out  of  my 


RISE  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


43 


mouth ;  it  shall  not  return  unto  me  void,  but  it  shall  ac¬ 
complish  that  which  I  please,  and  it  shall  prosper  in  the 
thing  whereto  I  sent  it.”  At  Greenwich,  he  met  a  Mr. 
S.,  who  preached  and  baptized  several  people  that  seemed 
deeply  affected.  He  went  to  Gloucester,  and  called  on 
Esquire  P.,  and  presented  him  a  petition  for  raising  one 
hundred  and  fifty  pounds  to  discharge  the  debt  on  the 
preaching  house  in  Philadelphia.  He  promised  both  to 
contribute  toward  the  object  himself,  and  propose  it  to 
others. 

On  Monday,  the  29tli  of  June,  after  a  Sabbath  “  of 
sweet  rest  to  his  soul,”  in  which  the  Lord  gave  him 
“poAver  to  speak  with  some  affection,”  Asbury  again 
left  Philadelphia  for  Trenton.  His  conveyance  was  by 
stage,  in  which  there  was  “  some  loose  and  trifling  com¬ 
pany.”  After  preaching  in  the  evening  with  some  life  and 
energy,  he  went  the  next  day  and  preached  in  the  field, 
and  then  returned,  and  enjoyed  liberty,  while  he  preached 
to  many  people  in  the  court-house.  On  the  following 
Wednesday,  he  “went  over  the  ferry  and  preached  to 
many  people,  among  whom  were  some  fine  women  who 
behaved  with  airs  of  great  indifference.”  He  then  re¬ 
turned  to  Trenton  and  preached  at  night,  and  again  the 
next  morning  at  five,  after  which  he  “  set  off  for  Phila¬ 
delphia.”  On  his  return,  he  again  fell  into  “unprofit¬ 
able  company,”  among  whom  he  says,  “  I  sat  still  as  a 


44  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


man  dumb,  and  as  one  in  whose  mouth  there  was  no  re¬ 
proof.  They  appeared  so  stupidly  ignorant,  sceptical, 
deistical,  and  atheistical,  that  I  thought  if  there  were  no 
other  hell,  I  should  strive  with  all  my  might  to  shun 
that.” 

He  was  again  in  Burlington  on  Saturday,  the  4th  of 
July.  He  went  there  to  attend  the  execution  of  a  mur¬ 
derer,  “  and  declared  to  a  great  number  of  people  under 
the  jail  wall,  ‘  He  healeth  the  broken  in  heart !’  The  poor 
criminal  appeared  penitent,  behaved  with  great  solidity, 
and  expressed  a  desire  to  leave  the  world.”  He  then 
returned  to  Philadelphia,  and  delivered  an  exhortation 
that  night,  and  after  spending  a  peaceful  Sabbath,  de¬ 
parted  again  on  Monday  for  Burlington.  He  remained 
there  three  days,  labouring  among  the  people,  and 
“many,”  he  says,  “  seemed  much  stirred  up  to  seek  the 
kingdom  of  God.”  He  then  returned  to  Philadelphia, 
where  he  remained  a  few  days,  and  then  went  to  New 
Jersey  again,  and  preached  near  Mantua  Creek,*  at  his 
friend,  Mr.  T.’s,  and  though  it  was  the  time  of  harvest, 
nearly  one  hundred  people  assembled ;  and  while  he  dis¬ 
coursed  on  the  words,  “  Ye  were  sometime  in  darkness, 
but  now  are  ye  light  in  the  Lord,”  many  felt  the  power 

*  So  I  judge  from  the  connection,  and  from  collating  this  with 
other  passages  in  the  Journal.  Sometimes  there  is  indefiniteness  in 
the  Journals  in  regard  to  localities. 


RISE  OP  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


45 


of  the  truth.  He  delivered  another  sermon  the  same 
day,  and  the  next  went  to  Greenwich,  where  he  felt 
much  “shut  up”  while  preaching  to  about  a  hundred 
people,  on  “Fear  not,  little  flock.”  He  then  "went  to 
Gloucester,  which,  he  says,  “  is  one  of  the  dullest  places 
I  have  seen  in  this  country.”  The  same  night  he  went 
to  Haddonfield,  and  the  next  day  preached  “  to  a  few 
attentive  hearers,  who  seemed  much  affected  by  the 
truths  of  God.”  One  man  especially,  who  had  been 
much  devoted  to  company  and  liquor,  was  much  con¬ 
cerned  on  account  of  his  past  life ;  but  Asbury  enter¬ 
tained  fears  that  his  impressions  would  not  be  permanent. 
The  man,  however,  accompanied  him  to  the  ferry,  whence 
he  proceeded,  on  Friday,  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  ar¬ 
rived  “  time  enough  for  intercession,  and  found  it  a  good 
time,  both  then  and  at  the  evening  preaching.”  On  the 
Sabbath,  after  preaching  in  the  morning,  he  set  out  in 
the  afternoon  for  Trenton,  where  he  did  not  arrive  until 
noon  on  Monday,  but  at  night  he  proclaimed  the  word 
with  a  good  degree  of  animation. 

During  this  short  visit  of  two  days,  to  Trenton,  he 
met  the  society  and  gave  them  tickets.  The  society 
showed  signs  of  growth,  as  it  now,  though  in  about  the 
first  year  of  its  existence,  had  nineteen  members  in  its 

communion.  Mr.  Asbury  denominated  them  “  a  serious 
3 


46  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

people,”  and  saw  a  prospect  of  much  good  being  accom¬ 
plished  there. 

Mr.  Toy,  to  whom  we  may  now  properly  revert,  was 
still  an  efficient  labourer  with  the  little  band  in  Trenton. 
They  were  supplied  occasionally  with  preaching  by 
Bishop  Asbury,  and  the  other  preachers  subsequently 
stationed  in  Philadelphia,  until  the  storm  of  the  Revolu¬ 
tion  burst  upon  them,  when  the  English  preachers  fled 
from  the  country,  and  they  were  left  with  none  to  break 
to  them  the  bread  of  life.  Notwithstanding,  however, 
the  greatness  of  their  difficulties  and  the  smallness  of 
their  number,  they  succeeded,  by  extraordinary  exertion, 
in  erecting  a  small  frame  house  for  Divine  worship.  In 
this  humble  temple  Mr.  Toy  held  weekly  meetings,  and 
the  little  society  held  on  its  way  ;  but  in  1776,  they  were 
called  to  suffer  an  important  loss  in  the  removal  of  Mr. 
Toy  and  his  family  to  Maryland. 

In  his  new  home  he  manifested  the  same  spirit  of  de¬ 
votion.  to  God  and  Methodism  which  had  previously 
characterized  him.  He  opened  his  house  for  preaching, 
and  became  the  leader  of  a  class.  In  November,  1779, 
he  removed,  at  the  instance  of  Bishop  Asbury,  to  Abing¬ 
don,  subsequently  the  seat  of  Cokesbury  College.  Here 
he  instituted  prayer  meetings,  and  read  Mr.  Wesley’s 
sermons  to  the  people,  and  became  the  leader  of  a  small 
class  which  had  been  formed  there.  He  was  also  the 


*  RISE  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


47 


instrument  of  building  there  a  house  of  worship,  which 
stood  for  many  years,  a  monument  of  his  devotion  and 
zeal.  In  July  1787,  the  Conference  was  held  in  Abing¬ 
don,  and  as  the  facilities  for  entertaining  the  preachers 
were  limited,  Mr.  Toy  lodged  twelve  at  his  own  house. 

Not  far  from  this  time  he  became  an  instructor  in 
Cokcsbury  College.  He  was  elected  to  this  position  on 
account  of  his  knowledge  of  Mathematics  and  English 
Literature.  About  1789  or  1790,  he  began  to  preach, 
and  in  October  1797,  he  was  ordained  a  Deacon.  In 
1801,  he  entered  upon  the  privations  and  toils  of  an 
itinerant  life,  and  was  appointed  to  Baltimore  circuit, 
lie  was  subjected  to  discouragement  in  his  work  by  being 
tempted  to  doubt  his  call  to  the  ministry.  He  endured 
painful  struggles  of  mind  on  this  account,  but  finally  ob¬ 
tained  a  complete  victory  over  his  subtle  adversary.  On 
one  occasion,  having  preached  several  times  with  but  lit¬ 
tle  apparent  effect,  and  having  lost  his  horse,  he  attempted 
to  walk  a  distance  of  five  miles  with  his  saddle-bags  on 
his  arm.  The  suggestion  entered  his  mind  that  this  had 
befallen  him  because  he  had  undertaken  a  work  to  which 
God  had  not  called  him.  He  retired  into  the  woods,  op¬ 
pressed  beyond  measure,  and  wrestled  in  fervent  prayer, 
with  God,  requesting  an  evidence  of  his  call  to  the  work 
if  he  were  truly  called.  His  prayer  was  heard,  and  that 
day  several  souls  were  awakened  and  converted  to  God. 


48  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

When  the  service  was  concluded,  the  man  of  the  house 
informed  him  that  his  horse  was  found  and  lodged  in  his 
stable.  From  that  day  he  never  doubted  his  Divine  vo¬ 
cation  to  the  ministerial  office. 

He  continued  to  perform  the  work  of  an  itinerant 
Methodist  preacher  for  about  seventeen  years,  during 
which  time  he  showed  himself  a  workman  that  needed 
not  to  be  ashamed,  rightly  dividing  the  word  of  truth. 
He  travelled  the  following  circuits  respectively,  namely, 
Calvert,  1802 ;  Norfolk,  1803 ;  Severn,  1804 ;  Prince 
George’s,  1805  ;  Montgomery,  1806  ;  Frederick,  1807  ; 
Severn,  1808;  Great  Falls,  1809-10;  Calvert,  1811; 
Severn,  1812 ;  Baltimore  circuit,  1813 ;  Great  Falls, 
1814-15 ;  Harford,  1816-17 ;  Prince  George’s,  1818. 
In  1819,  he  passed  into  the  honored,  hut  unenviable 
company  of  his  superannuated  co-laborers,  where  he  re¬ 
mained,  preaching  almost  every  Sabbath,  and  sometimes 
twice,  never  failing  to  fulfil  his  engagements,  until 
December  1825. 

He  fell  at  his  post,  with  his  armor  on,  and  his  hand 
clasping  the  Spirit’s  sword  which  he  had  wielded  so  suc¬ 
cessfully  in  many  a  fierce  and  trying  conflict.  He  was 
conducted  from  the  pulpit  to  his  death  bed,  on  which  he 
declared  his  submission  to  the  will  of  God.  He  testified 
that  he  had  a  Divine  assurance  of  the  peace  and  love  of 
God,  that  he  had  trusted  in  Him  for  fifty-five  years,  and 


RISE  OF  METHODISM  IN'  NEW  JERSEY. 


49 


now  rested  his  whole  soul  upon  his  promise.  Thus  be¬ 
lieving  and  thus  sustained,  he  tranquilly  met  the  inevi¬ 
table  hour,  and  passed  serenely  to  his  reward  on  high, 
on  the  evening  of  Saturday,  the  28th  of  January,  1826. 

Mr.  Toy  possessed  an  intellect  naturally  strong,  and 
a  very  retentive  memory.  In  addition  to  the  liberal 
academical  advantages  which  he  enjoyed  in  his  youth  at 
Burlington,  his  mind  was  stored  by  diligent  attention  to 
reading.  He  was  deeply  read  in  the  works  held  in  the 
highest  estimation  by  the  Church,  and  he  especially  de¬ 
lighted  in  the  Holy  Scriptures.  These  he  studied  with 
unwearied  attention,  and  was  thus  prepared  to  bring 
forth  out  of  the  treasury,  things  both  new  and  old.  He 
was  a  first  cousin  to  the  late  Bishop  White,  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and  was,  says  a  Methodist 
authority,*  one  of  the  purest  men  and  soundest  preach¬ 
ers  known  to  early  Methodism. 

*  Rev.  William  Hamilton,  Baltimore,  Md. 


50  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER  II. 

PROGRESS  OF  THE  WORK  UNTIL  THE  FIRST  CONFERENCE. 

After  his  visit  to  Trenton,  Asbury  returned  to  Phila¬ 
delphia,  but  was  shortly  in  New  Mills  again,  preaching 
the  word  both  evening  and  morning.  He  found  them  a 
very  affectionate  people.  He  then  went  to  Burlington, 
where  he  found  many  friends  from  Philadelphia,  and 
they  had  at  night  a  time  of  power.  He  departed  the 
next  morning  for  Amboy,  which  place  he  reached  after 
a  tedious  journey  through  much  rain  and  over  bad  roads. 
He  took  lodging  at  a  tavern,  as  there  was  probably  no 
other  place  for  the  entertainment  of  a  Methodist 
preacher.  He,  however,  was  kept  in  peace  in  his  jour¬ 
ney  and  felt  great  courage  in  the  work  of  God.  He 
preached  to  a  small  congregation  at  Amboy,  but  they  did 
not  appear  to  have  much  relish  for  the  word,  and  he  en¬ 
tertained  but  a  small  hope  for  the  place. 

He  again  visited  Staten  Island,  and  preached  to  large 
congregations  at  Mr.  Van  Pelt’s  and  Justice  Wright’s. 


PROGRESS  UNTIL  THE  FIRST  CONFERENCE.  51 

lie  then  proceeded  to  New  York  and  labored  to  promote 
the  interests  of  the  work  there  and  in  the  vicinity.  During 
this  time  he  visited  Amboy  again  and  dined  with  a  mixed 
company  of  Assemblymen,  Churchmen,  and  Quakers. 
With  characteristic  sincerity  he  proclaimed  his  message, 
and,  though  many  of  them  went  to  hear  him  for  sport, 
“they  went  away  very  still.”  On  one  occasion,  when 
he  went  to  Staten  Island,  Justice  Wright  met  him  and  in¬ 
formed  him  that  the  court  was  holding  its  sessions  and 
engrossed  the  attention  of  the  people.  He  then  pro¬ 
ceeded  to  the  ferry,  and  lifted  up  his  voice  in  behalf  of 
the  truth,  while  many  people  listened  attentively  to  his 
word.  “  Hitherto,”  he  exclaims,  “  hath  the  Lord  helped 
me !” 

On  the  nineteenth  of  October  he  started  from  New 
York  in  a  stage  across  Jersey  for  Philadelphia.  He  was 
annoyed  during  the  journey  by  the  profanity  of  a  young 
man,  who  was  a  fellow  passenger.  Asbury  determined 
to  reprove  him  when  a  suitable  opportunity  offered.  At 
length  he  found  such  an  opportunity,  when  none  but 
himself  and  another  person  were  left  in  the  vehicle  with 
him,  when  he  told  him  how  his  conduct  had  grieved  him. 
He  received  the  admonition  quite  well,  and  excused  him¬ 
self  by  saying  he  did  not  think  what  he  was  doing.  Pie 
afterward  appeared  to  exercise  more  care  over  his  words. 
They  stopped  at  New  Brunswick  to  dine,  and  then  pro- 


52  MEMORIALS  OP  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

ceeded  to  Princeton,  a  place  Mr.  Asbury  had  long  de¬ 
sired  to  see,  on  account  of  the  pious  Mr.  Davies,  who  was 
the  late  president  of  the  college  there.  He  tarried  there 
during  the  night,  and  the  next  day  Avent  to  Trenton,  but, 
on  arriving;  there  he  found  that  a  drunken  sailor  had 
locked  up  the  court-house,  so  lie  was  obliged  to  preach 
in  a  school-house,  where  he  had  a  comfortable  meeting. 
He  also  preached  at  five  o’clock  the  next  morning.  The 
day  following  he  Avent  over  the  river  and  preached,  and 
then  returned  and  proclaimed  the  Avord  in  the  evening  at 
Trenton  to  an  audience  in  which  there  Avere  many 
young  people. 

The  folloAving  Sabbath  Avas  spent  in  Burlington,  where 
he  Avas  much  dejected  in  spirit,  but  felt  greatly  assisted 
in  preaching,  and  the  truth  reached  the  hearts  of  the 
people.  After  preaching  at  five  o’clock  the  next  morn¬ 
ing  he  left  for  Philadelphia,  Avhere  he  again  preached  in 
the  evening. 

After  an  absence  of  nearly  six  months,  in  Avhich  he 
traveled  and  labored  in  portions  of  DelaAvare  and  Mary¬ 
land,  he  again  appears  in  New  Jersey,  where  he  preached 
at  different  points,  and  often  to  large  congregations,  from 
Saturday,  the  seventeenth,  till  Thursday,  the  tAventy- 
second  of  April,  1773.  Speaking  of  this  visit,  he  says; 
“  The  Lord  was  frequently  Avith  us  in  mercy  and  power ; 
and  my  heart  Avas  greatly  enlarged.  IIoav  I  long  to  be 


PROGRESS  UNTIL  THE  FIRST  CONFERENCE.  53 


more  holy — to  live  more  with  God  and  for  God  !  Trou¬ 
bles  encompass  me  about ;  but  the  Lord  is  my  helper. 
Before  my  return  to  Philadelphia  I  had  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  the  foundation  laid  of  a  new  preaching  house, 
thirty-five  feet  by  thirty.”* 

While  Asbury  was  traveling  to  and  fro  preaching  the 
word  publicly,  and  performing  as  much  labor  of  this  kind 
as  most  clergymen,  at  the  present  day,  would  consider 
sufficient  to  tax  the  energies  of  nearly  a  half  dozen 
men,  he  was  not  unmindful  of  the  more  personal  work 
of  a  pastor. 

Hence,  while  on  a  tour  “  through  the  Jerseys”  in  May 
of  this  year,  we  find  him  speaking  faithfully  and  closely 
to  a  certain  man,  who,  he  says,  “  has  a  great  regard  for 
us,  but  seems  to  be  too  much  taken  up  with  worldly 
cares.”  He  showed  him  the  deceitfulness  of  riches  in 
producing  a  spirit  of  independence  towards  God,  hard- 

*  Though  I  have  no  data,  by  which  to  determine,  with  certainty, 
the  location  of  this  “  preaching  house, ”  I  think  it  highly  probable 
it  was  Trenton.  The  society  there  must  have  commenced  to  build 
about  this  time,  as  they  had  their  house  erected  and  Mr.  Toy  held 
service  in  it  some  time  before  he  removed  to  Maryland,  which  was  in 
1776,  three  years  after  the  foundation  here  mentioned  was  laid.  This 
opinion  is  strengthened  by  the  fact  that  Asbury  frequently  preached 
in  Trenton,  and  it  is  not  improbable,  therefore,  that  he  was  there  on 
that  occasion.  See  p.  46. 


54  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

ness  of  heart,  and  pride  in  its  various  forms,  while  they 
promise  safety  and  happiness. 

The  Methodist  preachers  of  that  early  day,  though 
having  authority  from  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church, 
in  virtue  of  their  Divine  call,  to  perform  all  the  offices  of 
the  ministry,  and  consequently  to  administer  the  Sacra¬ 
ments,  had  not  received  Episcopal  ordination,  and  it  was 
not  considered  proper,  therefore,  for  them  to  perform 
this  part  of  religious  service.  Hence,  the  preachers 
themselves,  as  well  as  their  people,  were  accustomed  to 
go  to  the  Episcopal  Churches  to  receive  the  Sacrament 
of  the  Lord’s  Supper,  which  was  sometimes  administered 
by  unholy  hands.  One  of  the  rules  for  the  government 
of  the  connection,  agreed  to  by  all  the  preachers  present 
at  the  first  Conference,  in  1773,  was,  that  “all  the  peo¬ 
ple,  among  whom  we  labor,  are  to  be  earnestly  exhorted 
to  attend  the  Church  and  receive  the  ordinances  there.”* 
Accordingly,  on  Sabbath  afternoon,  the  sixth  of  June, 
after  preaching  in  the  morning  at  Burlington,  Mr.  As- 
bury  went  to  Church  in  order  to  receive  the  Sacrament. 
“  The  parson,”  he  says,  “gave  us  a  strange  discourse, 
full  of  inconsistency  and  raillery.  Leaving  him  to  answer 
for  his  ovTn  conduct,  I  took  no  further  notice  of  it,  but 
preached  that  night  from  these  -words,  4  The  natural  man 

*  Sketch  of  Rev.  Philip  Gatch,  by  lion.  John  McLean,  LL.  D. 
Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States. 


PROGRESS  UNTIL  THE  FIRST  CONFERENCE.  55 


receiveth  not  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  &c.,’  and 
shoved,  First,  what  the  things  of  God  are.  Secondly,  de¬ 
scribed  the  natural  man.  And,  Thirdly,  showed  how  they 
appear  to  be  foolishness  to  him ;  and  that  he  cannot  know 
them  by  the  strength  of  his  natural  or  acquired  abili¬ 
ties.”  The  little  society  in  Burlington,  he  continues, 
appears  to  be  in  a  comfortable  and  prosperous  state. 
He  proceeded  to  Trenton,  where  many  people  assembled 
to  hear  him  preach,  though  but  a  short  notice  had  been 
given  of  the  service.  During  this  visit  to  Trenton  he 
writes,  “  My  soul  has  been  much  assaulted  lately  by 
Satan ;  but,  by  the  grace  of  God,  it  is  filled  with  Divine 
peace.  My  heart  thirsteth  for  God,  even  for  the  living 
God.  I  wrote  to  Mr.  Wesley  to  day,  and  in  the  evening 
addressed  my  discourse,  chiefly,  to  the  young  people. 
May  the  Lord  apply  it  to  their  hearts.” 

\ 

We  have  thus  traced,  with  some  degree  of  particu¬ 
larity,  at  the  risk  of  wearying  the  reader  with  the  same¬ 
ness  of  the  narrative,  the  movements  of  Mr.  Asbury  in 
the  State  from  the  time  he  first  preached  within  its  limits 
till  the  session  of  the  first  Conference  held  in  America. 
We  have  done  this  because  these  records  are  essential 
to  our  narrative,  and  because  they  cast  light  upon  the 
infant  Methodism  of  the  province,  which  is  furnished 
from  no  other  source.  In  these  brief  memorials  which 


56  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

Asbury  has  bequeathed  us,  we  catch  just  and  reliable,  if 
not  dazzling,  glimpses  of  the  early  struggles  and  pro¬ 
gress  of  the  cause. 

That  most  remarkable  man,  Benjamin  Abbott,  joined 
the  society  this  year.  He  was  converted  the  twelfth  of 
October  of  the  previous  year.  He  was  a  very  wicked 
man  until  about  the  fortieth  year  of  his  age,  being  ad¬ 
dicted  to  drinking,  fighting,  swearing,  gambling,  and 
kindred  vices,  yet  he  was  industrious  and  provided  well 
for  his  household.  Sometimes,  during  his  life  of  sin,  he 
was  troubled  on  account  of  the  peril  to  which  he  felt  his 
follies  exposed  him,  but  his  religious  concern  was  of 
short  continuance,  and  he  would  rush  as  greedily  as  before 
into  sinful  employments  and  indulgences.  Sometimes 
his  outraged  conscience  would  be  terribly  alarmed  by 
awful  dreams,  which  had  the  effect  of  producing  promises 
of  amendment,  but,  though  he  would  reform  his  outward 
conduct  for  a  season,  his  vows  were  as  often  broken  as 
made,  until  he  was  brought  under  pungent  and  powerful 
conviction  by  a  sermon  preached  by  a  Methodist.  His 
wTife  was  a  serious  and  praying  woman,  and  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  which  he  sometimes  at¬ 
tended,  and  in  the  doctrines  of  which  he  had  been  reared ; 
but,  though  a  professor  of  religion,  she  did  not  possess 
any  very  just  notions  of  experimental  godliness. 

One  Sabbath  her  minister  was  sick,  and,  being  inclined 


PROGRESS  UNTIL  THE  FIRST  CONFERENCE.  57 

to  attend  religious  service,  she  asked  permission  of  her 
husband  to  go  to  a  Methodist  meeting,  which  she  heard 
was  to  be  held  about  ten  or  twelve  miles  distant.  He 
consented  to  her  request,  and,  in  company  with  her  eld¬ 
est  son  and  daughter,  she  went  to  the  meeting.  When 
she  returned  he  asked  her  how  she  liked  the  preacher. 
She  replied  that  “  he  was  as  great  a  preacher  as  ever  she 
had  heard  in  all  her  life,”  and  persuaded  him  to  go  and 
hear  for  himself.  The  next  Sabbath  he  went.  The 
preacher  took  for  his  text,  “  Come  unto  me  all  ye  that 
labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest.” 
He  was  much  engaged,  and  the  people  were  greatly  af¬ 
fected.  This  was  surprising  to  Abbott,  as  he  had  never 
seen  the  like  before.  The  sermon,  however,  made  no 
impression  upon  his  mind  until,  in  making  his  applica¬ 
tion,  the  preacher  said,  “  It  may  be  that  some  of  you 
may  think  that  thefe  is  neither  God  nor  devil,  heaven 
nor  hell,  only  a  guilty  conscience ;  and,  indeed,  my 
friends,  that  is  bad  enough.  But  I  assure  you  that 
there  is  both  heaven  and  hell,  God  and  devil.”  He 
proceeded  to  argue  that  fire  was  contained  in  everything, 
and  that  there  was  a  hell  dreadful  beyond  comprehen¬ 
sion,  and  urged  the  people  to  fly  to  Christ  for  refuge. 
He  showed  the  reality  of  the  existence  of  God  by  a 
beautiful  illustration  of  his  works,  and  called  upon  the 


58  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

people  to  come  unto  Him  for  Christ  had  died  for  their  re¬ 
demption. 

The  service  being  over,  two  dreams,  which  he  had 
dreamed  about  seven  years  before,  one  of  which  related 
to  hell  and  the  other  to  heaven,  rose  vividly  before  his 
mind.  He  thought  of  his  misspent  life,  “  and  in  a  mo¬ 
ment,”  he  says,  “all  my  sins  that  I  ever  had  committed 
were  brought  to  my  view  ;  I  saw  it  was  the  mercy  of 
God  that  I  was  out  of  hell,  and  promised  to  amend  my 
life.”  He  wTcnt  home  distressed  in  spirit,  and  oppressed 
with  awful  thoughts  concerning  a  future  life.  His  con- 
victions  increased,  and  for  several  days  he  suffered  se¬ 
vere  and  almost  insupportable  mental  agony.  The  doc¬ 
trine  of  election  troubled  him,  and  he  feared  he  was  a 
reprobate,  doomed  to  suffer  forever  the  wrath  of  God. 
In  this  state  of  mind  he  was  tempted  to  commit  suicide, 
and  even  Avent  so  far  as  to  take  the  first  steps  towards 
the  commission  of  the  awful  deed,  Avhen  it  occurred  to 
his  mind,  as  if  uttered  by  a  voice,  “  This  punishment  is 
nothing  to  hell;”  this  restrained  him  and  he  continued 
to  seek  for  mercy.  On  one  occasion  he  Avent  to  hear  the 
preacher,  who  was  the  means  of  aAvakening  him.  He 
had  an  intervieAV  with  him  before  the  services  com¬ 
menced,  and  told  him  the  state  of  his  mind,  and  desired 
to  be  baptized,  hoping,  by  that  means  to  gain  relief. 
The  preacher  asked  him  if  he  Avas  a  Quaker.  He  re- 


PROGRESS  UNTIL  THE  FIRST  CONFERENCE. 


59 


plied  lie  was  not,  only  a  poor,  wretched,  condemned  sin¬ 
ner.  He  then  exhorted  him  to  believe  in  Christ  for  sal¬ 
vation  ;  and,  in  reply  to  his  misgivings  concerning  the 
willingness  of  God  to  save  so  great  a  sinner  as  he  felt 
himself  to  he,  he  assured  him  that  he  was  the  very 
man  Christ  died  for,  else  he  would  not  have  awakened 
him  ;  that  he  came  to  seek  the  lost  and  to  save  the  great¬ 
est  of  sinners,  and  applied  to  his  case  the  promises  of 
Scripture.  They  went  to  the  house,  where  the  meeting 
was  to  be  held,  but  Abbott  remained  outside,  as  he  was 
afraid  to  go  in  lest  he  should  cry  out  as  he  had  done  at 
a  meeting  a  day  or  two  previous,  and  thus  expose  him¬ 
self  to  ridicule.  The  preacher,  in  his  prayer,  especially 
dwelt  upon  the  case  of  “  the  poor,  broken-hearted  sin¬ 
ner.”  He  says,  “  His  cries  to  God,  on  this  occasion,,  ran 
through  my  heart  like  darts  and  daggers ;  after  meeting 
I  returned  and  prayed  in  my  family,  and  ever  after  con¬ 
tinued  that  duty.  That  night  I  lay  alone,  expecting  to 
sleep  but  little,  but  to  pray  and  weep  all  night ;  when¬ 
ever  I  fell  into  a  slumber,  it  appeared  to  me  that  I  saw 
hell  opened  ready  to  receive  me,  and  I  just  on  the  point 
of  dropping  in,  and  devils  waiting  to  seize  me.  Being 
thus  alarmed,  it  would  arouse  me  up,  crying  to  the  Lord 
to  save  me ;  and  thus  I  passed  the  whole  night  in  this 
terrified  unhappy  condition.  Just  at  the  dawning  of  the 
day  I  fell  into  a  dose  more  like  sleep  than  any  I  had 


GO  MEMORIALS  OE  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

during  the  whole  night,  in  which  I  dreamed  that  I  saw  a 
river  as  clear  as  crystal,  in  the  midst  of  which  appeared 
a  rock  with  a  child  sitting  upon  it,  and  a  multitude  of 
people  on  the  shore,  who  said  the  child  would  be  lost. 
I  then  saw  a  small  man  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  whose 
hair  was  very  black,  and  he  and  I  wrestled  together.  I 
heard  the  people  cry  out,  The  child  is  lost ;  and,  looking 
round,  I  saw  it  floating  down  the  river ;  and,  when  it 
came  opposite  where  we  were,  it  threw  up  its  wings,  and 
I  saw  it  was  an  angel.  The  man,  with  whom  I  wrestled, 
told  me  there  was  a  sorrel  or  red  horse  chained  head  and 
hind  foot  in  the  river,  and  bade  me  go  down  and  loose 
him.  The  people  parted  to  the  right  and  left,  forming  a 
lane  for  me  to  pass  through  ;  I  immediately  hastened  to 
the  river  and  went  in,  the  water  running  over  my  head, 
and,  without  receiving  any  kind  of  injury,  I  loosed  the 
horse  and  immediately  I  sprang  out  of  the  water  like  a 
cork,  or  the  bouncing  of  a  ball ;  and,  at  that  instant,  I 
awoke,  and  saw,  by  faith,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  stand¬ 
ing  by  me  with  his  arms  extended  wide,  saying  to  me, 
‘  I  died  for  you.’  I  then  looked  up,  and,  by  faith,  I  saw 
the  Ancient  of  Days,  and  he  said  to  me,  ‘  I  freely  for¬ 
give  thee  for  what  Christ  has  done.’  At  this  I  burst 
into  a  flood  of  tears  ;  and,  with  joy  in  my  heart,  cried 
and  praised  God.  *  *  *  The  Scriptures  were  won¬ 

derfully  opened  to  my  understanding.  I  was  now  ena- 


PROGRESS  UNTIL  TIIE  FIRST  CONFERENCE.  61 


bled  to  interpret  the  dream,  or  vision,  to.  my  own  satis¬ 
faction,  viz  : — The  river,  which  I  saw,  represented  to  me 
the  river  of  life  proceeding  from  the  throne  of  God, 
spoken  of  by  the  Psalmist,  xlvi.  4,  and  also  in  Pev. 
xxii.  1.  The  numerous  company  on  the  shores  repre¬ 
sented  the  angels  of  God,  standing  to  rejoice  at  my  con¬ 
version,  according  to  Luke  xv.  6,  7.  The  sorrel  or  red 
horse,  I  thought,  was  my  own  spirit  or  mind,  fettered 
with  the  cords  of  unbelief  or  the  chains  of  the  devil. 
The  color  represented  the  carnal  mind,  or  nature  of  Sa¬ 
tan,  which  was  stamped  upon  me;  and  thus  1  was  plunged 
into  the  river,  where  the  cords  of  unbelief  were  immedi¬ 
ately  loosed  by  faith,  and  my  captive  soul  set  at  liberty ;  and 
my  bouncing  out  was  the  representation  of  the  lightness  of 
my  heart,  which  sprang  up  to  God,  upon  my  instantane¬ 
ous  change  from  nature  to  grace.  The  man,  at  whose 
command  I  was  loosed,  was  Christ ;  thus  I  was  set  at 
liberty  from  the  chains  of  bondage  and  enmity  of  the 
carnal  mind.” 

No  sooner  did  he  receive  the  assurance  of  pardon 
than  he  began  to  labor  for  God.  He  arose  and  called 
up  his  family,  and  read  and  expounded  to  them  a  por¬ 
tion  of  Scripture,  exhorted  them,  sung,  and  prayed,  and 
says,  “  If  I  had  had  a  congregation,  I  could  have 

preached.”  After  breakfast  he  told  his  wife  he  must  go 
4 


62  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

and  tell  the  neighbors  what  the  Lord  had  done  for  his 
soul. 

He  first  went  to  the  house  of  a  Baptist ;  and,  as  he 
and  his  wife  were  professors  of  religion,  he  supposed 
they  would  understand  the  nature  of  the  change  he  had 
experienced  and  rejoice  wfith  him  ;  “but,  to  my  great  sur¬ 
prise,”  he  says,  “when  I  related  my  experience  and  told 
what  God  had  done  for  my  soul,  it  appeared  as  strange  to 
them  as  if  I  had  claimed  possession  of  Old  England,  and 
called  it  all  my  own.”  He  then  proceeded  to  a  mill,  where 
he  thought  he  would  see  a  number  of  people,  and  have  an 
opportunity  to  exhort  them,  and  tell  them  what  a  bless¬ 
ing  he  had  obtained.  On  his  way  he  exhorted  all  he 
met  with  to  turn  to  God ;  and,  on  reaching  the  mill,  he 
told  his  experience  to  the  people  and  urged  them  to  flee 
from  the  wrath  to  come,  while  “  some  laughed,  and 
others  cried,  and  some  thought”  his  reason  had  departed. 
“Before  night,”  he  says,  “a  report  was  spread  all 
through  the  neighborhood  that  I  was  raving  mad.” 
When  he  returned  home  he  asked  his  wife  about  her 
conviction  and  conversion,  expecting  that,  as  she  was  a 
professor  of  religion,  she  was  acquainted  with  the  mys¬ 
teries  of  the  new  birth,  but  he  was  mistaken.  She  was 
led  by  domestic  affliction,  a  few  years  after  her  marriage, 
to  covenant  with  God  to  be  more  religious,  and  became 
a  praying  woman,  and  united  with  the  Church,  but  re- 


PROGRESS  UNTIL  THE  FIRST  CONFERENCE.  63 

raained  destitute  of  the  power  of  godliness.  He  told 
her  she  had  no  religion,  and  was  nothing  more  than  a 
strict  Pharisee.  This  displeased  her,  and  the  next  day 
she  went  to  seek  advice  from  her  minister,  who  coun¬ 
seled  her  to  not  regard  what  her  husband  said,  for  he 
expected  to  be  saved  by  his  works.  She  returned  better 
satisfied  in  mind,  and  took  a  book  from  the  minister  for 
him  to  read.  It  was  Bellamey’s  New  Divinity,  in  which 
he  insisted  on  conversion  before  conviction,  and  faith  be¬ 
fore  repentance.  He  read  the  book  about  half  through, 
and  finding  the  author  to  be  a  rigid  Calvinist,  he  threw  it 
aside,  “determined,”  he  says,  “to  read  no  more  in  it, 
as  my  own  experience  clearly  proved  to  me  that  the  doc¬ 
trines  it  contained  were  false.” 

The  minister  sent  for  Abbott  to  visit  him,  which  he 
did ;  and,  after  dinner,  he  requested  the  family  to  with¬ 
draw  from  the  dining  xroom,  vhen  he  informed  him  that 
he  had  learned  that  God  had  done  great  things  for  him. 
Abbott  then  related  to  him  an  account  of  his  conviction 
and  conversion,  to  which  he  paid  strict  attention  until  he 
had  finished,  when  he  told  him  he  was  under  strong  de¬ 
lusions  of  the  devil.  He  handed  him  a  book  to  read, 
which  he  felt  he  ought  not  to  take,  however  he  resisted 
the  impression  and  took  it.  On  his  way  home  he  was 
tempted  to  doubt,  and  called  to  mind  his  various  sins, 
but  none  of  them  condemned  him.  He  then  recurred 


64  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

to  a  particular  sin  which  he  concluded  would  condemn 
him;  “but  in  a  moment,”  he  says,  “I  felt  an  evidence 
that  that  sin  was  forgiven  as  though  separate  from  all 
the  rest  that  ever  I  had  committed ;  but,  recollecting  the 
minister  had  told  me  ‘  I  was  under  strong  delusions  of 
the  devil,’  it  was  suggested  to  my  mind,  it  may  be  he  is 
right.  I  went  a  little  out  of  the  road,  and  kneeled 
down  and  prayed  to  God  if  I  was  deceived  to  undeceive 
me,  and  the  Lord  said  to  me,  ‘  Why  do  you  doubt  ?  Is 
not  Christ  all  sufficient  ?  Is  he  not  able  ?  Have  you 
not  felt  his  blood  applied  ?’  I  then  sprang  upon  my 
feet  and  cried  out,  Not  all  the  devils  in  hell,  nor  all  the 
Predestinarians  on  earth  should  make  me  doubt ;  for  I 
knew  I  was  converted.  At  that  instant  I  was  filled  with 
unspeakable  raptures  of  joy.” 

He  pursued  his  way,  leaving  it  luminous  with  the  light 
of  his  holy  example,  steadfast  to  the  end.  He  was  a 
true  hero,  facing  mobs  and  enduring  reproach,  but  never 
daunted  in  the  work  of  God.  For  several  years,  as  a 
local  preacher,  he  abounded  in  evangelical  labors  in 
West  Jersey  and  elsewhere,  and  was  one  of  the  most 
powerful  and  successful  instruments  employed  in  spread¬ 
ing  Methodism  in  the  southern  section  of  the  State. 
He  will  appear  again  and  again,  a  valiant  actor  in  some 
of  the  most  heroic  scenes  of  our  narrative. 


THE  FIRST  CONFERENCE. 


65 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  FIRST  CONFERENCE. 

Asbury  had  now  been  in  the  country  a  little  over 
twenty  months,  and  had  traveled  and  labored  exten¬ 
sively  in  Pennsylvania,  New  York,  and  New  Jersey. 
In  the  latter  province  especially,  he  had  borne  the  lamp 
of  truth  into  many  a  dark  and  neglected  neighborhood, 
and  through  his  labors,  the  work  of  reform  was  spread¬ 
ing,  the  feeble  societies  were  waxing  stronger  and 
stronger,  and  the  few  faint  streaks  of  light,  which  had 
been  gilding  the  horizon  for  more  than  two  years,  were 
increasing  in  number  and  in  power,  and  had  already 
wreathed  themselves  into  a  bow  of  promise,  which  cast 
a  cheering  and  grateful  radiance  over  the  otherwise  por¬ 
tentous  future. 

When  Asbury  first  arrived  at  Philadelphia,  the  entire 
membership,  in  that  city,  did  not  exceed  thirty-eight.* 

*  So  says  Rev.  Thomas  Sargeant  in  the  Christian  Advocate,  1829, 
p.  120  ;  but  Asbury  in  his  Journal,  Yol.  III.  p.  121,  says,  “  In  1771, 
[  which  was  the  year  of  his  arrival,!  there  were  about  300  Metho- 


66  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

It  is  not  probable  that  at  that  time  the  number  in  New 
Jersey  was  much  greater,  if,  indeed,  it  was  as  great ; 
but  at  the  Conference,  which  sat  in  Philadelphia,  in  the 
summer  of  1773,  Philadelphia  reported  180  members 
and  New  Jersey  200. 

Nothing  of  very  great  importance  occurred  at  this 
Conference,  except  the  adoption  of  certain  rules  for  the 
government  of  the  connection,  the  stationing  of  the 
preachers,  and  the  debates  in  relation  to  the  conduct  of 
some  of  the  preachers,  “who  had  manifested  a  desire  to 
abide  in  the  cities  and  live  like  gentlemen.”  It  was  also 
discovered  that  money  had  been  wasted,  improper  lead¬ 
ers  appointed,  and  many  of  the  rules  broken.  The  rules 
adopted  by  the  Conference  were  the  following : 

dists  in  New  York,  250  in  Philadelphia,  and  a  few  in  New  Jersey.  ” 
In  1773,  according  to  the  minutes,  there  were  only  180  in  Philadel¬ 
phia.  Here  is  a  discrepancy  between  the  authorities,  either  of  which, 
in  ordinary  cases,  would  be  regarded  as  perfectly  reliable.  If  there 
were  250  in  1771,  as  Asbury  says,  how  is  the  decrease  of  70  in  less 
than  two  years  to  be  accounted  for  ?  But,  if,  as  Mr.  Sargeant  affirms, 
there  were  only  about  38  in  1771,  we  can  account  for  the  increase  of 
142  members  in  less  than  two  years  upon  the  principles  of  Methodist 
progression.  It  should  be  remembered  that  until  1775,  New  Jersey 
suffered  no  decrease  from  the  Kevolutionary  excitement,  but  made 
steady  progress  in  numbers,  and  at  the  Conference  of  1775,  Philadel¬ 
phia  reported  190  members,  which  was  an  increase  of  ten  on  the 
number  reported  in  1773. 


THE  FIRST  CONFERENCE. 


67 


1.  The  old  Methodist  doctrine  and  discipline  shall  be 
enforced  and  maintained  amongst  all  our  societies  in 
America. 

2.  Any  preacher  who  acts  otherwise  cannot  be  re¬ 
tained  amongst  us  as  a  fellow  laborer  in  the  vineyard. 

3.  No  preacher  in  our  connection  shall  be  permitted  to 
administer  the  ordinances  at  this  time,  except  Mr.  S., 
and  he  under  the  particular  direction  of  the  assistant. 

4.  No  person  shall  be  admitted  more  than  once  or 
twice  to  our  love  feasts  and  society  meetings,  without  be¬ 
coming  a  member. 

5.  No  preacher  shall  be  permitted  to  reprint  our 
books,  without  the  approbation  of  Mr.  Wesley,  and  the 
consent  of  his  brethren.  And  that  R.  W.  shall  be  al¬ 
lowed  to  sell  what  he  has,  but  reprint  no  more. 

6.  Every  assistant  is  to  send  an  account  of  the  work 
of  God  in  his  circuit  to  the  general  assistant. 

There  were  now  ten  traveling  preachers  in  the  whole 
American  connection,  and  1160  members.  These  were 
included  in  the  provinces  of  New  Jersey,  Maryland,  and 
Virginia,  and  in  New  York,  and  Philadelphia.  Beyond 
these  limits  Methodism  in  this  country  had  not  pushed 
its  conquests. 

John  King  and  William  Watters  wore  appointed 
by  the  Conference  to  labor  in  New  Jersey,  which  consti¬ 
tuted  one  circuit.  It  is  not  probable  that  the  preachers 


68  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

traveled  regularly  over  the  whole  province,  but  rather 
bestowed  their  labors  upon  those  points  which  promised 
the  best  results,  and  in  nurturing  and  building  up  the  fewr 
societies  which  had  already  been  formed.  As  the  way 
opened  and  the  work  spread,  they  extended  the  area  of 
their  toils. 

At  that  day,  the  fact  that  a  preacher  was  appointed  at 
the  Conference  to  a  given  field  is  not  a  certain  proof 
that  he  labored  there.  Changes  were  more  frequent 
than  Conferences,  and  they  sought  to  accommodate  the 
exigencies  of  the  work  without  much  reference  to  the 
preferences  or  convenience  of  the  laborers.  Hence, 
though  Watters  was  appointed  this  year  to  Newr  Jersey, 
it  does  not  appear  that  he  labored  there.  In  a  short 
account  of  his  ministerial  labors,  written  by  himself,  Mr. 
Watters  says  that,  in  October  1772,  he  accompanied  Mr. 
Williams,  a  local  preacher,  to  Virginia,  and  that  he  re¬ 
mained  there  eleven  months,  and  in  the  following  No¬ 
vember  took  an  appointment  on  Kent  circuit,  Delaware. 
As  he  was  in  Virginia  until  the  fall  of  1773,  and  then 
went  to  Kent  circuit,  it  is  not  probable  that  he  was  in 
New  Jersey  at  all  during  this  year.  In  the  fall  of  this 
year  Philip  Gatch  was  sent  to  labor  in  New  Jersey. 
Gatch  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  was  sent  by  Mr. 
Rankin  to  this  field  of  labor.  In  Philadelphia  he  met 
Mr.  King,  with  whom  he  crossed  into  New  Jersey. 


THE  FIRST  CONFERENCE. 


69 


King  preached  and  held  a  love  feast,  and,  “  on  the  fol¬ 
lowing  morning,”  says  Gatch,  “he  pursued  his  journey, 
leaving  me  a  ‘  stranger  in  a  strange  land.’  ”  It  thus  ap¬ 
pears  that  King  was  in  the  province  and  preached  dur¬ 
ing  the  year,  but  how  much  labor  he  performed  there  it 
is  impossible  now  to  tell. 

Mr.  King  was  an  Englishman,  and  came  to  this  coun¬ 
try  in  the  latter  part  of  1769.  Soon  after  his  arrival 
he  waited  upon  Mr.  Pillmore,  (  who  and  Richard  Board- 
man  were  the  first  preachers  sent  by  Mr.  Wesley  to  this 
country,  where  they  arrived,  landing  at  Gloucester  Point, 
New  Jersey,  the  24th  of  October,  1769,)  and  desired 
permission  to  labor  in  a  public  capacity,  in  the  society 
in  Philadelphia.  Pillmore,  not  being  satisfied  with  re¬ 
gard  to  his  qualifications,  declined  giving  him  authority; 
but  so  intent  was  he  on  proclaiming  the  doctrines  of  free 
grace  to  the  multitudes  there,  that  he  appointed  a  meet¬ 
ing,  on  his  own  responsibility,  in  the  Potter’s  field.  His 
sermon  produced  so  good  an  impression,  that  some  of 
the  members  of  the  society,  who  heard  him,  desired  Mr. 
Pillmore  to  encourage  him  to  go  forward  in  the  work. 
“  After  examination  he  was  permitted  to  preach  a  trial 
sermon ;  and,  as  he  appeared  to  be  a  young  man  of 
piety  and  zeal,  and  much  engaged  for  God,  he  received 
permission  from  Pillmore  to  go  down  to  Wilmington, 
Delaware,  where  Methodism  had  already  been  intro- 


70  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

duced,  and  to  exhort  among  a  few  awakened  persons, 
who  were  earnestly  seeking  the  Lord.”* 

He  was  the  first  Methodist  preacher  that  publicly  pro¬ 
claimed  the  gospel  in  the  city  of  Baltimore.  It  was  in 
the  year  1770.  He  mounted  a  blacksmith’s  block,  at 
the  intersection  of  Front  street  and  the  great  eastern 
road,  and  held  up  the  cross  to  the  gaze  of  his  discordant 
and  wondering  auditors.  A  deputy  surveyor  of  the 
county,  who  wras  one  of  his  hearers,  was  brought  under 
conviction  for  sin,  and  was  afterward  converted  to  God. 
He  was  the  first  fruit  of  Methodism  in  Baltimore,  and 
“some  of  his  descendants  are  still  living  in  the  city  and 
county,  and  are  influential  and  pious  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  f 

Inspired  with  the  conviction  that  he  was  in  the  line  of 
his  duty,  and  encouraged  by  the  success  which  had  al¬ 
ready  attended  his  efforts,  he  plunged  into  the  very  heart 
of  the  citadel.  He  took  a  table  for  his  pulpit,  at  the 
corner  of  Baltimore  and  Calvert  streets,  and  shouted  his 
message  to  the  crowd ;  and,  “  it  being  a  day  of  general 
muster  of  the  volunteers  and  militia,  some  young  men 
of  the  ‘higher  class,’  who  considered  it  manly  to  get 
drunk  on  such  occasions,  determined  to  interrupt  the 

*  Rev.  S.  W.  Coggeshall  iu  Methodist  Quarterly  Rev.,  Oct.,  1855. 

f  Rev.  W.  Hamilton’s  article  on  Early  Methodism  in  Maryland, 
etc.,  in  Methodist  Quarterly  Review,  July  1856. 


THE  FIRST  CONFERENCE. 


71 


services  and  break  up  the  meeting.  In  the  confusion 
which  followed,  the  table  was  overturned  and  the 
preacher  thrown  to  the  ground.”  The  captain  of  the 
company,  however,  who  did  not  approve  of  such  treat¬ 
ment  of  a  stranger,  and  perceiving  that  King  was  a 
countryman  of  his,  flew  to  his  rescue  and  protected 
him  from  further  molestation.  Soon  after  this  an  in¬ 
vitation,  it  is  said,  was  extended  to  him  to  preach  in 
St.  Paul’s  Church.  It  is  not  known  who  wTas  the  au¬ 
thor  of  this  civility,  but  the  sermon  gave  offence  to  the 
rector  of  the  parish,  and  the  preacher  was  informed 
“  that  hereafter  the  cannon  should  not  be  spiked  for  his 
benefit.”  One,  who  was  present  on  the  occasion,  said 
“  that  Mr.  King  made  the  dust  fly  from  the  old  velvet 
cushion.” 

Such  was  the  man  who  was  appointed  to  superintend 
the  interests  of  the  cause  in  New  Jersey,  in  1773.  His 
heroic  disposition  and  burning  zeal  were  eminently  suited 
to  the  exigencies  of  the  work ;  and  though  it  is  probable 
he  did  not  perform  much  labor  in  the  province  this 
year,*  yet  the  frail  bark  of  New  Jersey  Methodism  was 
favored  with  brave  and  skillful  guidance,  by  which, 
with  the  blessing  of  God,  it  passed  safely  along  the 
treacherous  current  on  which  it  had  been  launched,  and 
glided  into  wider  and  clearer  waters,  where  the  favoring 

*  Judge  McLean’s  Sketch  of  Gatch,  p.  27-8. 


72  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

breezes  and  the  serener  skies  betokened  a  tranquil  and 
triumphant  voyage. 

At  the  Conference  of  1774,  Mr.  King  was  appointed 
to  Norfolk,  Virginia,  and  in  1775,  he  is  again  in  New 
Jersey  on  the  Trenton  circuit.  In  1776  he  located,  but 
in  1801  his  name  again  appears  in  the  itinerant  lists,  and 
he  was  appointed  to  Franklin  circuit,  and  in  1802  to  Sus¬ 
sex  circuit.  In  1803  he  again  located.  He  was  a  man 
of  true  piety  and  usefulness,  and  so  continued  until  he 
departed  to  heaven,  at  a  very  advanced  age,  from  the 
vicinity  of  Raleigh,  North  Carolina. 

Philip  Gatcii  appears  to  have  been  the  first  preacher 
officially  appointed  to  the  province,  who  for  any  consid¬ 
erable  period  performed  in  it  regular  ministerial  labor. 
He  entered  upon  the  appointment,  as  we  have  already 
seen,  in  the  autumn  of  1773,  and  continued  in  it  until 
the  latter  part  of  May,  1774,  when  he  left  it  to  attend 
Conference  in  Philadelphia.  As  he  sustained  so  early 
and  so  important  a  relation  to  the  cause  in  New  Jersey, 
it  is  proper  that  he  should  receive  more  than  a  passing 
notice  in  these  Memorials. 

He  was  born  on  the  second  of  March,  1751.  His  pa¬ 
rents  were  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church ;  but  they 
were  destitute,  ho  says,  of  experimental  religion ;  yet 
they  paid  some  attention  to  its  restraints  and  forms. 
He  was  the  subject  of  religious  impressions  at  a  very 


THE  FIRST  CONFERENCE. 


73 


early  age,  and  suffered  keenly  from  his  convictions  of 
the  evil  and  demerit  of  sin.  He  feared  the  Lord  and 
greatly  desired  to  serve  him,  hut  knew  not  how,  yet  he 
attended  to  his  private  religious  duties  with  commenda¬ 
ble  punctuality.  “All  was  dark  atid  dreary  around 
me,”  he  says,  “and  there  was  no  one  in  the  neighbor¬ 
hood  who  possessed  religion.  Priests  and  people,  in  this 
respect,  were  alike.” 

When  in  his  seventeenth  year,  through  the  influence 
of  wicked  associations,  he  lost  much  of  his  concern  for 
his  spiritual  welfare  ;  but,  by  means  of  afflictive  provi¬ 
dences,  his  religious  anxieties  were  reawakened;  and, 
terrified  by  thoughts  of  death,  judgment,  and  an  eter¬ 
nity  of  misery,  he  mourned  in  secret  places,  often  wish¬ 
ing  he  had  never  been  born.  For  years  he  continued  his 
efforts  to  find  rest  to  his  soul,  but  without  success,  until 
January,  1772,  whenx  he  was  permitted  to  hear  the  gos¬ 
pel  from  a  Methodist  lay  preacher.  The  word  was  ac¬ 
companied  to  his  understanding  by  the  Holy  Spirit.  “I 
was  stripped,”  he  says,  “  of  all  my  self-righteousness. 
It  was  to  me  as  filthy  rags,  when  the  Lord  made  known 
to  me  my  condition.  I  saw  myself  altogether  sinful  and 
helpless,  while  the  dread  of  hell  seized  my  guilty  con¬ 
science.”  He  continued  to  attend  Methodist  preaching 
as  he  had  opportunity,  though  his  father  forbade  him  to 
do  so,  declaring  that  his  house  should  not  hold  two  reli- 


74  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

gions.  At  length  lie  attended  a  prayer  meeting.  Feel¬ 
ing  that  he  was  too  sinful  to  remain  where  the  worship 
of  God  was  being  performed,  he  arose  and  left  the 
house ;  but  a  friend,  in  whom  he  had  confidence,  followed 
him,  requesting  hkn  to  return.  Influenced  by  respect 
for  his  friend’s  piety,  he  yielded  to  his  request,  and,  un¬ 
der  the  deepest  exercise  of  mind,  bowed  himself  before 
the  Lord,  saying  in  his  heart,  If  thou  wilt  give  me  power 
to  call  on  thy  name  how  thankful  will  I  be  !  “  Immedi¬ 

ately,”  he  says,  “I  felt  the  power  of  God  to  affect  my 
body  and  soul.  It  went  through  my  whole  system.  I 
felt  like  crying  aloud.  God  said,  by  his  Spirit,  to  my 
soul,  ‘  My  power  is  present  to  heal  thy  soul,  if  thou  wilt 
but  believe.’  I  instantly  submitted  to  the  operation  of 
the  Spirit  of  God,  and  my  poor  soul  was  set  at  liberty. 
I  felt  as  if  I  had  got  into  a  new  world.  I  was  certainly 
brought  from  hell’s  dark  door,  and  made  nigh  unto  God 
by  the  blood  of  Jesus. 

“  ‘  Tongue  cannot  express 
The  sweet  comfort  and  peace 
Of  a  soul  in  its  earliest  love.’ 

Ere  I  was  aware  I  was  shouting  aloud,  and  should  have 
shouted  louder  if  I  had  had  more  strength.  I  was  the 
first  person  known  to  shout  in  that  part  of  the  country. 
The  order  of  God  differs  from  the  order  of  man.  He 
knows  how  to  do  his  own  work,  and  will  do  it  in  his  own 


THE  FIRST  CONFERENCE. 


75 


"way,  though  it  often  appears  strange  to  us.  Indeed,  it 
is  a  strange  work  to  convert  a  precious  soul.  I  had  no 
idea  of  the  greatness  of  the  change,  till  the  Lord  gave 
me  to  experience  it.  A  grateful  sense  of  the  mercy  and 
goodness  of  God  to  my  poor  soul  overwhelmed  me.  I 
tasted  and  saw  that  the  Lord  was  good.” 

He  at  once  became  a  decided  and  earnest  Christian. 
His  father  soon  renounced  his  opposition,  and  became, 
with  most  of  the  family,  a  member  of  the  Methodist  so¬ 
ciety,  which  was  now  formed  in  the  neighborhood. 
Gatcli  soon  began  to  give  a  word  of  exhortation  in  the 
prayer  and  class-meetings,  and  was  blessed  in  so  doing. 
His  mind  then  became  exercised  on  the  subject  of  mak¬ 
ing  his  hortatory  exercises  more  public,  but  he  felt  such 
a  sense  of  weakness  that  to  do  so  appeared  impossible. 
His  comforts  failed,  and  he  sank  into  despondency.  He 
tried  to  stifle  his  impressions,  but  they  would  return  with 
increased  force,  and  again  a  sense  of  weakness  would 
sink  his  feelings  lower  than  ever.  He  knew  not  what  to 
do.  He  read  the  first  chapter  of  Jeremiah,  portions  of 
which  seemed  to  suit  his  case.  He  then  concluded  that 
if  the  Lord  would  sanctify  him  he  would  be  better  pre¬ 
pared  to  speak  his  word.  He  now  began  to  seek  for  a 
deeper  baptism  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  He  says,  “  I  la¬ 
bored  under  a  sense  of  want,  but  not  of  guilt.  I  needed 
strength  of  soul.  God  knew  that  it  was  necessary  for 


76  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

me  to  tarry  in  Jerusalem  till  endued  with  power  from  on 
high.  The  struggle  was  severe  but  short.  I  spent  the 
most  of  my  time  in  prayer,  but  sometimes  only  with 
groans  that  I  could  not  utter.  I  had  neither  read  nor 
heard  much  on  the  subject,  till  in  the  midst  of  my  dis¬ 
tress  a  person  put  into  my  hands  Mr.  Wesley’s  sermon 
on  Salvation  by  Faith.  The  person  knew  nothing  of  my 
exercise  of  mind. 

“  I  thought  if  salvation  was  to  be  obtained  by  faith, 
why  not  now?  I  prayed,  but  the  Comforter  tarried.  I 
prayed  again,  and  still  the  answer  was  delayed.  God 
had  his  way  in  the  work ;  my  faith  was  strengthened, 
and  my  hope  revived.  I  told  my  brother  that  I  believed 
God  would  bless  me  that  night  in  family  prayer.  Ife 
knew  that  my  mind  was  in  a  great  struggle,  but  did  not 
know  the  pursuit  of  my  heart.  In  the  evening,  while 
my  brother-in-law  prayed  with  the  family,  a  great  trem¬ 
bling  seized  me.  After  it  had  subsided,  I  was  called 
upon  to  pray.  I  commenced,  and  after  a  few  minutes  I 
began  to  cry  to  God  for  my  own  soul,  as  if  there  was 
not  another  to  be  saved  or  lost.  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
came  down  upon  me,  and  the  opening  heavens  shone 
around  me.  By  faith  I  saw  Jesus  at  the  right  hand  of 
the  Father.  I  felt  such  a  weight  of  glory  that  I  fell 
with  my  face  to  the  floor.  *  *  My  joy  was  full.  I 

related  to  others  what  God  had  done  for  me.  This  was 


THE  FIRST  CONFERENCE. 


77 


in  July,  a  little  more  than  two  months  after  I  had  re¬ 
ceived  the  Spirit  of  justification.” 

With  increased  moral  strength  and  greater  spirit¬ 
ual  enjoyments,  his  impression  that  it  was  his  duty  to 
preach  the  gospel  returned.  Still  he  hesitated.  He 
was  visited  with  affliction,  and  in  his  extremity,  like 
Jonah,  he  promised  the  Lord  that  if  he  would  spare  him 
he  wTould  speak  his  word  “  though  it  should  he  in  ever  so 
broken  a  manner.” 

Thinking  he  would  be  less  embarrassed  in  his  public 
exercises  among  strangers  than  among  his  relatives  and 
acquaintances,  he  Avent  into  Pennsylvania,  and  made  ap¬ 
pointments  and  held  meetings.  He  continued  to  exhort 
and  preach,  and  was  greatly  blessed  in  so  doing,  and  had 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  work  prosper,  until  he  was 
sent  to  labor  in  New  Jersey. 

In  entering  upon  l\is  new  and  extensive  field  of  labor, 
which  had  received  but  little  moral  or  religious  culture, 
three  considerations,  he  says,  rested  on  his  mind  with 
great  weight :  first,  his  own  weakness ;  secondly,  the 
help  that  God  alone  could  afford ;  and  thirdly,  the  salva¬ 
tion  of  the  souls  of  the  people  to  whom  he  was  sent. 

He  realized  the  presence  of  the  Master  with  him  in 
his  work,  and  his  labors  were  crowned  with  a  good  de¬ 
gree  of  success.  The  Methodists  were  then,  he  says, 
very  much  spoken  against.  Much  devotion,  patience, 


78  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

and  labor  were,  therefore,  necessary  to  gain  even  small 
accessions ;  every  inch  of  the  ground  had  to  be  strenu¬ 
ously  contested,  and  obstacles,  such  as  would  have  ap¬ 
palled  a  weaker  spirit  or  a  less  resolute  faith,  had  to  be 
assailed  and  overcome.  But  he  wTas  not  the  man  to 
shrink  from  difficulties,  and  during  this  period  of  service 
in  New  Jersey,  fifty-two,  he  says,  united  with  the  Church, 
most  of  whom  professed  religion. 

Among  those,  who  at  this  time  joined  the  society  un¬ 
der  Mr.  Gatch,  was  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Abbott,  and 
three  of  her  children.  Mrs.  Abbott  attended,  with  her 
husband,  a  meeting,  one  day,  where  Gatch  was  to  preach. 
His  discourse  was  of  an  alarming  character,  and  it 
reached  her  heart.  After  the  sermon  she  called  him 
aside  and  said,  “  If  what  my  husband  tells  me,  and  what 
you  preach,  be  true,  I  have  no  religion.”  He  went  to 
Abbott  and  told  him  his  wife  was  awakened  and  that  he 
must  take  her  to  the  place  where  he  was  to  preach  in  the 
afternoon,  to  which  he  assented,  and  they  accordingly 
went.  After  he  had  done  preaching  he  called  upon  Ab¬ 
bott  to  pray.  “This,”  says  the  latter,  “was  a  great 
cross,  as  I  had  never  prayed  in  public,  except  in  my 
family ;  however,  I  felt  it  my  duty  to  comply,  and  ac¬ 
cordingly  took  up  my  cross,  and  the  Lord  wrought  pow¬ 
erfully  upon  the  people ;  among  the  rest,  my  wife  was 
so  wrought  upon  that  she  cried  aloud  for  mercy.  So 


TIIE  FIRST  CONFERENCE. 


79 


great  was  her  conviction  that  for  three  days,  she  eat, 
drank,  or  slept  but  little.  She  now  saw  she  had  only 
been  a  Pharisee,  and  was  in  a  lost  condition.  On  the 
third  day,  in  the  afternoon,  she  went  over  to  John  Mur- 
phey’s,  a  neigbor  of  ours,  a  sensible  man,  and  one  well 
experienced  in  religion.  After  some  conversation  with 
him,  she  returned  home,  and  upon  her  way  the  Lord 
broke  in  upon  her  soul,  and  she  came  home  rejoicing  in 
God.  During  her  absence  I  went  from  home  to  visit  a 
sick  man,  with  whom  I  tarried  all  night.  On  my  return 
next  morning,  she  met  me  at  the  door  with  tears  of  joy; 
we  embraced  each  other  and  she  cried  out,  £  Now  I  know 
what  you  told  me  is  true,  for  the  Lord  hath  pardoned  my 
sins.’  We  had  a  blessed  meeting  ;  it  was  the  happiest 
day  we  had  ever  seen  together.  ‘Now,’  said  she,  ‘ I  am 
willing  to  be  a  Methodist,  too from  that  time  we  went 
on,  hand  in  hand,  helping  and  building  each  other  up  in 
the  Lord.  These  were  the  beginning  of  days  to  us. 
Our  children  also,  began  to  yield  obedience  to  the  Lord, 
and  in  the  course  of  about  three  months  after  my  wife’s 
conversion,  we  had  six  children  converted  to  God ;  two 
sons  and  four  daughters,  the  youngest,  of  whom,  ivas 
only  seven  years  old.”  One  of  the  sons,  David,  after¬ 
wards  became  a  useful  preacher. 

Abbott  must  have  resided,  at  this  time,  in  Salem 


80  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

County,  and,  probably,  in  Pittsgrove  Township.  For 
some  months  after  his  conversion,  he  tells  us,  there  was 
no  Methodist  society  in  the  neighborhood  where  he  lived. 
As  Mr.  Gatch  received  his  wife  and  some  of  his  children 
into  society,  and  as  he  also  called  upon  him  to  pray  the 
first  time  he  prayed  in  public,  it  is  probable  that  Gatch 
formed  the  first  class  in  Pittsgrove  and  appointed  him 
leader,  for  he  says,  after  speaking  of  his  first  attempts 
at  preaching,  “About  this  time  we  formed  a  class  in  our 
neighborhood  and  I  was  appointed  to  lead  them.  We 
were  taken  into  the  circuit  and  had  regular  circuit 
preaching  once  in  two  weeks  :  I  continued  to  preach  on 
Sabbath  days  and  the  circuit  preachers  on  week  days.”* 
We  think  it  is  not  very  improbable  that  this  class  may 
have  formed  the  nucleus  of  either  the  Broadneck,  or 
Murphy’s,  since  called  Friendship  Church,  two  of  the 
oldest  societies  in  the  County  of  Salem,  and  which  now 
constitute  the  Pittsgrove  charge,  New  Jersey  Confer¬ 
ence.  Nothing,  however,  on  this  point  can  be  affirmed 
positively.  We  only  speak  of  the  probabilities  indicated 
by  the  facts. 

At  length  the  time  for  Conference  arrived,  and  Mr. 
Gatch  was  called  to  part  with  the  people  for  whom  he 
had  labored.  Though  he  found  the  cross  to  be  heavy, 

*  Life  of  Abbott,  p.  35. 


THE  FIRST  CONFERENCE. 


81 


while  serving  the  circuit,  on  account  of  the  low  estimate 
he  placed  upon  his  abilities,  yet  he  felt  it  to  he  a  great 
trial  to  part  with  the  friends  whose  servant  in  the  gospel 
he  had  been,  for  they  possessed  the  unity  of  the  Spirit, 
and  he  was  united  with  them  in  the  bonds  of  peace. 


82  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER  IY. 

THE  WORK  IN  1774. 

The  Conference  sat  in  Philadelphia,  on  Wednesday 
the  25th  of  May,  1774.  It  was,  says  Asbury,  all  things 
considered,  a  harmonious  session,  and  was  attended  with 
great  power.  The  appointments  of  the  preachers  were  ac¬ 
quiesced  in,  and  it  closed  on  Friday  “with  a  comfortable 
intercession.”  At  this  Conference  New  Jersey  reported 
257  members,  an  increase  during  the  year  of  fifty-seven. 
There  were  only  two  preachers  appointed  to  labor  at  a 
time  in  New  Jersey  this  year,  but  there  were  two 
circuits,  Trenton  and  Greenwich.  William  Watters  was 
appointed  to  Trenton,  and  Philip  Ebert  to  Greenwich 
circuit.  They  were  to  change  with  Daniel  Ruff  and 
Joseph  Yearby,  who  were  sent  to  travel  Chester  circuit, 
in  Pennsylvania. 

William  Watters  was  the  first  native  Methodist 
preacher  that  entered  the  traveling  connection.  He  was 


THE  WORK  IN  1774.  83 

not,  however,  it  is  said,  the  first  American  preacher  that 
•was  raised  up  by  Methodism.  This  honor  is  assigned  to 
Richard  Owings,  who  was  converted  under  the  labors  of 
Robert  Strawbridge,  in  Maryland.  Rut,  though  Owings 
was  a  local  preacher  before  Watters,  his  name  does  not  ap¬ 
pear  on  the  minutes  until  1775,  after  which  he  again  re¬ 
tired  into  the  local  ranks,  but  two  or  three  years  before 
his  death  he  re-entered  the  itinerancy,  in  which  he  closed 
his  life. 

Though  Watters  stands  first  on  the  list  of  native 
Americans  that  entered  the  itinerant  field,  vet  he  and 
Gatch  were  very  nearly  assimilated  in  their  history. 
“  They  were  born  the  same  year.  Watters  experienced 
religion  first,  but  they  began  to  exercise  in  public  in  the 
same  summer  of  1772.  While  Watters  was  laboring  in 
Virginia,  Gatch  was  laboring  in  Pennsylvania  and  other 
parts  wdiere  the  openings  of  Providence  directed.  Mr. 
Watters’  name  being  on  the  minutes  for  1773,  brought 
him  into  the  number  admitted,  and  made  an  assistant 
May  25,  1774.  Gatch  was  placed  in  the  same  relation 
at  the  same  Conference,  which  shows  that  the  Confer¬ 
ence  considered  the  act  of  the  quarterly  meeting  at 
which  Mr.  Gatch  was  employed,  which  Mr.  Rankin  and 
Mr.  Asbury  attended,  as  regular.  Mr.  Watters  and  Mr. 
Gatch  sat,  each  for  the  first  time,  in  the  same  Confer¬ 
ence  in  the  same  relation.  This  detail  is  rendered  pro- 


84  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

per,  as  these  venerable  ministers  were  the  first  recruits 
for  the  itinerancy  in  America.”* 

William  Watters  was  a  native  of  Maryland  and 
was  born  in  the  year  1751.  He  professed  conversion 
and  joined  the  Methodists  in  the  year  1771.  He  had 
six  brothers  older  than  himself,  all  of  whom,  with  two 
sisters,  professed  religion  within  a  period  of  nine  months, 
and  all  joined  the  society  the  same  year.  The  names  of 
the  brothers  were  John,  Henry,  Godfrey,  Nicholas,  Ste¬ 
phen,  and  Walter.  They  were  among  the  first  whose 
hearts  and  houses  were  opened  to  receive  the  Methodist 
preachers  when  they  entered  Harford  County,  in  Mary¬ 
land,  and  several  of  them  early  became  official  members 
in  the  Church.  Nicholas  became  a  useful  preacher,  and 
wras  admitted  on  trial  by  the  Conference,  in  1776,  and 
continued  to  labor  on  different  circuits  until  1804,  when 
he  died  in  peace  and  triumph,  in  the  sixty-fifth  year  of 
his  age.  As  he  approached  the  dark  river  he  said,  “  I 
am  not  afraid  to  die,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God ;  I  desiro 
to  depart  and  be  with  Christ ;  the  Church  will  sustain 
no  loss  by  my  death,  for  the  Lord  will  supply  my  place 
with  a  man  that  will  be  more  useful.  Thanks  be  to  God 
I  have  continued  to  live  and  labor  faithfully  to  the  end.” 
Among  his  last  utterances  was  the  following  couplet : 


*  Sketch  of  Gatcb. 


THE  WORK  IN  1774.  85 

“  Farewell,  vain  world,  I’m  going  home, 

My  Saviour  smiles  and  bids  me  come.” 

William  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  ministry  in  the 
local  sphere  in  1772,  and  in  1773,  as  we  have  seen,  he 
was  appointed  by  the  first  Conference  to  Ncav  Jersey, 
but  did  not  labor  on  that  appointment,  but  labored  during 
that  year  in  Virginia  and  Maryland.  In  1774  he  is  ap¬ 
pointed  to  Trenton  Circuit,  New  Jersey.  He  entered 
upon  his  appointment,  and  was,  he  says,  most  kindly 
received.  He  labored  successfully,  his  efforts  being 
made  a  blessing  to  saints  and  sinners.  “I  felt,”  he 
says,  “  freedom  of  spirit,  and  preached  as  if  every  ser¬ 
mon  was  my  last.  I  felt  myself  on  the  Lord’s  business, 
and  forgot,  comparatively,  all  other  concerns.” 

While  in  this  circuit,  he  met,  for  the  first  time,  with 
the  Life  of  Thomas  Walsh.  He  was  much  impressed  and 
affected  in  reading  if.  “I  saw,”  he  says,  “perhaps 
much  plainer  than  I  ever  did  before,  what  manner  of 
person  a  preacher  ought  to  be,  and  that  it  was  the  privi¬ 
lege  of  all  the  children  of  God  to  love  him  with  all  the 
heart.  Oh  !  how  did  I  long  to  be  delivered  out  of  the 
hands  of  all  my  spiritual  enemies.  Lord  !  let  me  ‘  die 
the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  let  my  last  end  be  like 
his.’  Though  I  had  too  much  reason  to  fear  that  I  in¬ 
creased  much  faster  in  gifts  than  in  grace,  yet  did  the 
Lord  sustain  me  in  my  weakness,  and  in  some  measure 


86  MEMORIALS  OP  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

gave  me  the  desire  of  my  heart,  in  seeing  a  gracious 
prospect  of  sinners  being  daily  added  to  the  Lord,  and 
to  his  people ;  while  our  brethren  sweetly  Ayent  on,  hand 
in  hand,  bearing  each  other’s  burthens,  and  striving  to¬ 
gether  for  the  hope  of  the  gospel.” 

While  he  was  in  New  Jersey,  “the  dreadful  cloud,” 
he  says,  “  that  had  been  hanging  over  us,  continued  to 
gather  thicker  and  thicker,  so  that  I  was  often  bowed 
down  before  the  God  of  the  whole  earth,  fearing  the 
evils  which  were  coming  on  our  sinful  land.  I  was  in 
Trenton  when  Hancock  and  Adams  passed  through  on 
their  way  to  the  first  Congress  in  Philadelphia.  They 
were  received  with  great  pomp,  and  were  much  caressed 
by  the  inhabitants  of  the  town.” 

After  Mr.  Watters  had  been  in  New  Jersey  about  one 
fourth  of  the  year,  Mr.  Rankin,  who  was,  at  that  time, 
the  Superintendent,  thought  it  best  that  he  should  ex¬ 
change  with  Daniel  Ruff,  who  was  on  Chester  circuit,  in 
Pennsylvania ;  promising  him,  however,  that  he  should 
return  at  the  end  of  a  quarter.  Accordingly  he  went 
to  Chester,  where  he  was  blessed  with  a  revival,  but 
at  the  end  of  the  quarter  he  gladly  recommended 
the  people  to  God  and  to  the  word  of  his  grace,  to 
return  to  his  kind  Trenton  friends,  who,  he  says,  “  re¬ 
ceived  me  with  as  much  affection  as  ever.” 

Having  entered  again  upon  his  appropriate  field  of  labor, 


THE  WORK  IN  1774. 


87 


he  had  large  congregations  at  most  of  the  preaching 
places,  and  says  he  enjoyed,  in  this  circuit,  many  conve¬ 
niences  for  improvement.  In  the  latter  part  of  the 
winter  and  through  the  spring  he  was  favored  with  see¬ 
ing  the  work  of  religion  reviving.  “Many,”  he  says, 
“  in  the  upper  end  of  the  circuit  were  greatly  wrought 
on,  and  our  meetings  were  lively  and  powerful.  The 
cries  of  the  people  for  mercy  were  frequently  loud  and 
earnest,  so  that  the  voice  of  the  speaker,  or  any  one 
praying,  was  frequently  drowned.  Several,  who  had  long 
rested  in  a  form  of  godliness,  were  brought  under  press¬ 
ing  concern,  and  found  the  Lord ;  and  many  of  the 
most  serious  were  greatly  quickened.  I  was  often  much 
blessed  in  my  own  soul,  and  my  hands  lifted  up,  which 
were  too  apt  to  hang  down.  Oh !  how  sweet  to  labor 
where  the  Lord  gives  his  blessing,  and  4  sets  open  a  door 

which  no  man  can  shut.’  ”* 

\ 

He  spent  nine  months  of  the  year  in  the  Trenton  cir¬ 
cuit,  much  to  his  own  comfort,  and  was  greatly  encour- 

*  A  Short  Account  of  the  Christian  Experience  and  Ministerial  La¬ 
bors  of  William  Watters.  Drawn  up  by  Himself.  Alexandria,  1806. 
This  work  has  long  been  out  of  print,  and  probably  very  few  copies 
are  now  in  existence.  Through  the  kindness  of  Rev.  Dr.  Roberts,  of 
Baltimore,  I  have  been  favored  with  the  use  of  a  copy,  which  bears 
unmistakable  marks  of  age,  but  is  a  precious  memorial  of  the  first 
American  Methodist  traveling  preacher,  and  his  times. 


88  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

aged  to  go  rejoicing  on  liis  way.  He  attended  the  Con¬ 
ference  in  Philadelphia,  in  1775,  and  was  appointed  to 
Frederick  circuit  in  Maryland,  to  labor  in  connection 
with  Robert  Strawbridge,  who  formed,  in  that  state,  one 
of  the  first  Methodist  societies  that  existed  in  America. 
Pie  felt  afflicted  with  this  appointment,  and  for  a  con¬ 
siderable  time  after  he  entered  upon  it  he  had  great 
conflicts  of  soul,  “  and  was  often  so  exceedingly  de¬ 
jected”  that  he  was  scarcely  capable  of  performing 
his  work ;  hut  in  the  summer  a  revival  broke  out, 
which  spread  all  round  the  circuit,  and  increased  dur¬ 
ing  his  stay,  so  that  he  was  led  to  rejoice  that  his  lot 
was  cast  there. 

In  1776  he  was  appointed  to  Fairfax  in  Virginia; 
in  1777  to  Brunswick;  in  1778  to  Fairfax  again;  in 
1779  he  was  sent  to  Baltimore;  in  1780  to  Frederick; 
in  1781  he  was  again  in  Baltimore;  in  1782  he  was 
appointed  to  the  Fluvana  circuit  in  Virginia;  and  in 
1788  to  Calvert.  In  1784  he  located.  He  entered 
the  traveling  ministry  again  in  1801,  and  was  stationed 
in  Alexandria;  in  1802  Georgetown  and  Washington 
city;  in  1803-4  Alexandria ;  in  1805  Washington.  In 
1806  he  again  located.  He  was  a  man  of  “good  re¬ 
port”  and  occupied,  as  his  appointments  show,  a  very 
responsible  and  honorable  place  in  the  early  ministry  of 
American  Methodism.  He  maintained  the  character  of 


THE  WORK  IN  1774. 


89 


a  laborious  and  successful  minister  of  Christ  until  liis 
death. 

The  work  advanced  in  New  Jersey  during  the  year 
1774,  though  in  not  quite  the  same  ratio  as  it  did  the 
previous  year.  After  making  allowance  for  removals, 
expulsions,  and  deaths,  three  hundred  members  were  re¬ 
ported  at  the  close  of  the  year,  which  was  an  increase 
of  forty-three.  One,  and  we  cannot  tell  how  many  more, 
of  the  first  fruits  of  the  movement  was,  this  year,  gath¬ 
ered  to  the  heavenly  garner.  Bishop  Asbury,  being  in 
Burlington,  says;  “Here  Mrs.  H.  gave  an  account  of 
the  triumphant  death  of  her  sister,  whose  heart  the  Lord 
touched  two  years  ago  under  my  preaching.”  And  from 
that  time  till  the  present,  multitudes,  who  have  been  re¬ 
generated  and  sanctified  through  the  agency  of  Method¬ 
ism,  have  been  ascending  year  by  year  from  New  Jersey, 
to  the  celestial  abodes^  on  high.  Some  of  their  beauti¬ 
fully  affecting  and  triumphant  death  scenes  we  shall 
have  occasion  to  notice  in  the  future  progress  of  our 
work. 

Captain  Webb  was  again  in  Burlington,  in  the  latter 
part  of  November  of  this  year,  in  company  with  Bishop 
Asbury.  When  they  arrived  they  “were  saluted  with 
the  melancholy  news  that  two  unhappy  men  were  to  be 
hung  on  the  Monday  following ;  one  for  bestiality,  and 
the  other  for  abusing  several  young  girls  in  the  most 


90  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

“  brutish  and  shocking  manner.”  They  visited  them  as 
ministers  of  Christ,  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  them  in 
preparing  for  their  terrible  doom.  One  of  them,  who 
was  a  Papist,  manifested  a  little  attention  to  their  words, 
but  wanted  to  know  if  he  might  not  trust  for  pardon 
after  death.  The  other  was  a  young  man,  who  appeared 
stupid  and  careless  in  regard  to  his  immortal  interests. 
In  the  evening  Asbury  preached,  and  “showed  the  people 
the  emptiness  of  mere  externals  in  religion,  and  the  ab¬ 
solute  necessity  of  the  inward  power  and  graces  thereof.” 

On  Friday,  December  2,  Mr.  Asbury  writes  in  his 
Journal,  “My  soul  enjoys  great  peace;  but  longs  for 
more  of  God.  We  visited  the  prisoners  again;  and 
Captain  W.  enforced  some  very  alarming  truths  upon 
them,  though  very  little  fruit  of  his  labor  could  be  seen. 
Mr.  R.  came  to  Burlington  to  day  and  desired  me  to  go 
to  Philadelphia.  So,  after  preaching,  in  the  evening, 
from  Prov.  xxviii.  13,  I  set  off  the  next  morning  for  the 
city ;  and  found  the  society  in  the  spirit  of  love.” 

Abraham  Whitworth,  who  was  appointed  to  Baltimore 
in  1773,  and  to  Kent  in  1774,  fled  from  his  circuit  on 
account  of  immorality,  and  came  into  Jersey.  Here  he 
poisoned  the  mind  of  Ebert,  who  was  on  Greenwich  cir¬ 
cuit,  with  the  fallacies  of  Universalism,  and  he  was 
therefore  dismissed.  In  consequence  of  this  the  circuit 
remained  for  some  time  destitute  of  preaching.  Mr. 


THE  AVORK  IN  1774. 


91 


Gatch  was  appointed  to  labor  on  Frederick  circuit  this 
year,  but  he  had  been  on  it  but  a  short  time  when  he  was 
sent  to  Kent  circuit  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the 
treachery  of  Whitworth.  He  labored  there  successfully 
till  a  short  time  before  Conference,  when  he  returned, 
by  direction,  to  New  Jersey,  to  look  after  the  scattered 
sheep  who,  by  the  dismissal  of  Ebert,  had  been  left 
AYithout  a  shepherd. 

Having  fulfilled  his  mission,  he  proceeded  to  the  Con¬ 
ference  which  Avas  again  held  in  Philadelphia  the  19th 
of  May  1775.  At  this  Conference  he  was  appointed  to 
Kent  circuit.  He  remained  there  until  the  fall  when  he 
Avent  to  Baltimore.  There  he  remained  for  a  time,  and 
then  exchanged  with  the  preacher  on  Frederick  circuit, 
so  that  he  had  three  different  appointments  in  the  same 
year.  In  the  last  appointment  he  Avas  most  cruelly  per¬ 
secuted.  On  one  occasion  he  heard  that  a  man,  whose 

\ 

Avife  had  been  convicted  under  another  preacher,  meant 
to  revenge  himself  upon  him.  A  company  of  his  friends 
gathered  around  him,  and  A\7hcn  he  was  assailed  by  the 
mob  they  desired  to  fight  for  his  protection,  but  he  per¬ 
suaded  them  not  to  use  violent  means,  telling  them  he 
could  bear  it  for  Christ’s  sake.  Tavo  men  held  his  horse 
by  the  bridle,  while  a  third,  elevated  at  a  suitable  height, 
applied  the  tar,  commencing  at  the  left  cheek.  The  up¬ 
roar  was  very  great,  some  swearing  and  some  crying ; 


92  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


the  women  especially,  who  were  present,  “  dealt  out  their 
denunciations  against  the  mob  in  unmeasured  terms.” 
The  man  who  applied  the  tar  laid  it  on  liberally,  and 
called  out  for  more,  saying  that  Gatch  was  true  blue. 
At  length  one  of  the  company  cried  out,  “It  is  enough.” 
The  last  stroke  made  with  the  paddle  was  drawn  across 
the  naked  eyeball,  which  caused  indescribable  pain,  and 
from  the  effects  of  which  he  never  entirely  recovered. 
His  horse  became  so  frightened  that  when  released  he 
dashed  off  with  such  violence  that  he  could  not  rein  him 
up  for  some  time,  and  he  narrowly  escaped  being  thrown 
against  a  tree.  “  If  I  ever  felt  for  the  souls  of  men,” 
he  says,  “  I  did  for  theirs.  When  I  got  to  my  appoint¬ 
ment,  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  so  overpowered  me  that  I  fell 
prostrate  in  prayer  before  him  for  my  enemies.  The 
Lord,  no  doubt,  granted  my  request,  for  the  man  who 
put  on  the  tar,  and  several  others  of  them,  were  after¬ 
ward  converted.”  The  next  day  a  mob  lay  in  wait  for 
him  on  his  way  to  an  appointment,  but,  by  the  direction 
of  a  friend,  he  eluded  them  by  taking  another  route. 
The  mob  designed  to  tie  him  to  a  tree  and  whip  him  un¬ 
til  he  promised  to  preach  no  more.  A  very  worthy 
young  man,  who  was  an  exhorter  and  class  leader  was 
attacked  by  the  persecutors  while  at  work  in  the  field 
and  whipped  “  so  cruelly  that  the  shirt  upon  his  back, 
though  made  of  the  most  substantial  material,  was  liter- 


THE  WORK  IN  1774. 


93 


ally  cut  to  pieces.”  His  employer,  who  was  a  Presbyte¬ 
rian  clergyman,  took  the  matter  in  hand  and  had  them 
brought  to  justice,  and  they  were  severely  punished  by 
the  court.  This  put  an  end,  he  says,  to  persecution  on 
that  circuit. 

Gatch  was  too  much  devoted  to  the  work  of  preaching 
the  gospel  to  be  turned  aside  by  persecution.  “  He  has 
been  heard  to  say,  judging,  probably,  from  the  rage  and 
cruelty  of  the  mob,  into  whose  hands  he  had  fallen  the 
day  before,  and  from  the  severe  manner  in  which  they 
had  whipped  the  young  man  in  the  field,  that,  had  he 
fallen  into  their  hands  when  lying  in  wait  for  him,  his  life 
would  probably  have  been  taken ;  ‘  for,’  said  he,  ‘  1  should 
never  have  made  the  promise  that  they  intended  to  ex¬ 
tort  from  me.’  ”  Sometimes,  he  says,  he  felt  great  tim¬ 
idity  at  the  prospect  of  danger,  but,  when  the  hour  of 
peril  came,  his  fear^  vanished.  This  he  considered  a 
clear  fulfillment  of  the  promise,  “  Lo,  I  am  with  you 
always.” 

We  will  take  our  leave  of  this  Methodist  pioneer  and 
hero  with  the  following  tribute  by  his  son:*  “When  he 
went  to  Virginia, f  persecution  did  not  rage  to  the  same 

*  Rev.  George  Gatch,  in  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal,  1835, 
p.  136. 

t  He  was  appointed  to  Hanover,  Virginia,  at  the  Conference 

in  1776. 

G 


94  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

extent,  but  bis  health  soon  failed  from  excessive  labor, 
and  exposure  to  the  open  air  in  field  preaching ;  so  that 
at  the  Conference,  in  1778,  he  received  no  appointment; 
and  January  14,  1778,  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth 
Smith,  of  Powhattan  county,  daughter  of  Thomas  Smith. 
Though  he  received  no  regular  appointment  after  this 
time,  he  had  the  superintendence  of  some  of  the  circuits  in 
the  vicinity  of  his  residence,  and  spent  a  considerable 
time  in  traveling  and  preaching  at  large ;  until  the  sta¬ 
bility  of  the  work,  and  the  cares  of  his  family  reconciled 
his  mind  to  a  more  circumscribed  sphere. 

“He  was  received  into  full  connection  at  the  Confer¬ 
ence  in  1774,  and  acted  as  an  assistant;  and  when  the 
preachers  from  England  were  under  the  necessity  of. re¬ 
turning,  he  was  one  of  five  who  were  chosen  to  superin¬ 
tend  the  work.  When  the  controversy*  arose,  which 
led  to  the  present  organization  of  the  Church,  he  was 
one  of  three  who  superintended  the  southern  part  of  the 
work,  and  to  whom  the  present  state  of  things,  in  part, 
is  to  be  attributed.  He  was  the  mover  and  vindicator 
of  the  rule  for  trying  members  by  a  committee,  and  from 
his  labors  in  the  business  department  and  in  the  pulpit, 
it  may  be  said,  he  bore  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day. 

*  This  controversy  was  concerning  the  administration  of  the  ordi¬ 
nances,  a  summary  account  of  which  will  doubtless  be  given  in  the 
History  of  American  Methodism. 


THE  WORK  IN  1774. 


95 


“  He  resided  in  Powhattan  county  sixteen  years  and 
then  removed  to  Buckingham  county.  He  was  led,  after 
a  residence  of  five  years  in  Buckingham  county,  to  haz¬ 
ard  a  removal  to  the  Northwestern  territory.  This 
was  in  the  fall  of  1798 ;  and  in  the  succeeding  winter  he 
settled  his  family  on  the  Little  Miami,  nine  miles  from 
the  mouth — the  place  of  his  residence  till  his  death.  He 
began  immediately  to  hunt  up  the  lost  sheep  in  the  wil¬ 
derness,  and  was  among  the  first  to  establish  Methodism 
north  of  the  Ohio.  He  was  chosen,  in  1802,  from  Cler¬ 
mont  county  to  assist  in  the  formation  of  a  constitution 
for  a  state  government ;  and  was  chairman  of  the  com¬ 
mittee  to  whom  were  referred  the  propositions  of  Con¬ 
gress  for  becoming  a  state.  After  the  organization  of 
the  state  he  served  twenty  years  as  associate  judge.  As 
one  of  the  pioneers,  he  was  useful  in  the  settlement  of 
the  country,  and  was' looked  to  for  advice  on  all  common 
matters,  by  the  many  who  soon  began  to  settle  in  his 
neighborhood ;  while  his  house  was  a  refuge  for  the 
weary  wanderer.  In  his  political  and  civil  relations  he 
maintained  the  dignity  of  the  gospel,  and  carried  reli¬ 
gious  influences,  thereby,  into  many  minds,  which,  pro¬ 
bably,  otherwise  would  not  have  been  brought  under  its 
control. 

“  He  was  all  the  time  industrious,  as  a  local  preacher, 
and  continued  his  religious  services  after  he  had  declined 


96  MEMORIALS  OP  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


all  civil  and  domestic  labors  and  responsibilities.  I  be¬ 
lieve  he  preached  his  last  sermon  on  the  second  of  Jan¬ 
uary  1834,  on  which  he  was  eighty-four  years  old. 

“  He  was  taken  on  the  25th  of  December  quite  ill 
with  the  prevailing  epidemic.  He  appeared  sensible  of 
his  situation,  and  said  but  little.  He  remarked,  a  few 
hours  before  his  dissolution,  four  of  his  children  stand¬ 
ing  by  his  bed,  that  on  the  morning  before  he  was  taken 
he  had  an  unusual  flow  of  Divine  feelings,  such  as  he 
had  rarely  experienced;  but  that,  during  his  affliction, 
his  pain  had  been  so  great  that  he  could  hardly  compose 
his  mind  while  he  could  send  a  wish  to  the  throne  of 
grace ;  but  that  we  must  all  pray  for  him,  as  he  had 
often  prayed  for  us.  When  asked,  however,  he  ex¬ 
pressed  an  unshaken  confidence  in  God.  He  fell  asleep 
in  the  arms  of  Jesus,  without  a  struggle  or  a  groan,  or 
the  least  apparent  agitation ;  while  his  spirit  silently  for¬ 
sook  the  long  abode  in  which  it  had  experienced  so  many 
vicissitudes,  and  found  a  safe  retreat  in  the  bosom  of  its 
God.” 


DARK  DAYS. 


9T 


CHAPTER  V. 

DARK  DAYS  IN  THE  HISTORY  OF  NEW  JERSEY  METHODISM. 

At  the  Conference  of  1775  there  still  remained  two 
circuits  in  New  Jersey,  and  three  preachers  were  ap¬ 
pointed  to  labor  in  the  State.  John  King  and  Daniel 
Ruff  were  sent  to  Trenton  circuit  and  William  Duke  to 
Greenwich.  They  were  to  change  in  one  quarter.  It 
would  appear  that,  led  by  so  brave  and  earnest  a  cham¬ 
pion  of  the  cause  as\  King,  they  labored  zealously  to 
carry  the  work  forward ;  yet  there  appears  at  the  close 
of  the  year  a  very  remarkable  and  painful  decrease  of 
members — a  decrease  of  one  hundred  and  fifty,  one  half 
from  the  number  reported  the  previous  year. 

It  is  not  probable  that  this  mournful  declension  was 
the  result  of  ordinary  backslidings ;  but  the  excitement 
of  war,  and  the  arousement  of  a  martial  spirit,  which 
was  beginning  to  be  felt  over  the  whole  country,  called 
the  minds  of  the  people  away  from  religious  contempla¬ 
tions  and  caused  them  to  neglect  the  ordinances  of  the 


98  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

gospel.  While  their  minds  and  hearts  were  absorbed  by 
thoughts  and  schemes  of  carnal  warfare  it  is  not  strange 
that  many  ceased  to  fight  the  good  fight  of  faith.  It  is 
a  sad  duty  to  record  too,  that  the  preachers  on  the  Tren¬ 
ton  circuit,  were  not  as  attentive  to  the  work  as  its  exi¬ 
gencies  required,  else,  it  may  be,  there  had  not  been  so 
serious  a  declension  in  the  membership.  On  the  16th 
of  April  1776,  Asbury,  in  his  Journal  says,  “I  received 
a  letter  from  friend  E.  at  Trenton,  complaining  that  the 
societies  in  that  circuit  had  been  neglected  by  the 
preachers.”  There  may  have  been  reasons  which  ren¬ 
dered  this  neglect,  in  some  degree,  justifiable,  or  possibly, 
unavoidable. 

During  those  early  and  troublous  times  it  was  a  com¬ 
mon  thing  for  preachers  to  locate.  Accordingly  the 
three  who  traveled  in  New  Jersey  this  year  soon  retired 
into  the  local  ranks.  King,  as  we  have  seen,  located  at 
the  end  of  the  year,  but  afterward  returned  to  the  work, 
Ruff  located  in  1781  and  Duke  in  1779. 

Enough  has  already  been  said  of  King  to  give  the 
reader  a  tolerably  just  idea  of  his  character  as  a  minis¬ 
ter.  We  will  however  give  an  additional  incident  which 
shows  how  powerful  was  the  influence  which  he  exer¬ 
cised.  A  German,  named  Henry  Rowman,  was  induced 
one  day  to  attend  a  Methodist  meeting.  It  was  in  the 
year  1768.  He  went  under  the  influence  of  strong 


DARK  DAYS. 


99 


prejudice ;  and,  after  reaching  the  place,  determined  to 
go  away  without  hearing  the  preaching ;  hut,  on  seeing 
a  group  of  decent,  well  dressed  persons  approach  the 
place,  he  supposed  it  could  be  no  disgrace  to  him  to  be 
found  in  their  company,  so  he  returned  and  seated  him¬ 
self.  John  King  was  the  preacher.  He  took  his  posi¬ 
tion  and  stood  a  few  minutes  with  his  hand  before  his 
face,  engaged  in  devotion.  Bowman  was  forcibly  struck 
with  the  conviction  that  he  was  a  messenger  from  God, 
and  that  he  himself  was  a  sinner.  Distress  seized  his 
mind,  and  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  subject  of  his 
personal  salvation  and  anxiously  sought  pardon  until  he 
obtained  it.  He  united  with  the  Methodists,  and  after 
maintaining  his  profession  fifty-nine  years  he  finished  his 
course  with  joy. 

\ 

Daniel  Buff  entered  the  ministry  at  a  very  early 
period  in  the  history  of  the  cause.  He  was  received  on 
trial  at  the  Conference  of  1774,  the  second  held  in 
America,  but  he  was  very  usefully  engaged  in  the  work 
previously  to  that  time.  Nearly  three  months  before 
that  Conference  was  held,  Bishop  Asbury,  being  in  the 
region  of  Baltimore,  speaks  of  preaching  at  the  ‘‘upper 
ferry,”  and  says :  “  Honest,  simple  Daniel  Ruff,  has  been 
made  a  great  blessing  to  these  people.  Such  is  the  wis¬ 
dom  and  power  of  God,  that  he  hath  wrought  marvel¬ 
ously  by  this  plain  man,  that  no  flesh  may  glory  in  his 


100  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

presence.”  More  than  two  months  afterward  he  writes; 
“  Rode  to  Susquehannah  and  many  of  the  leading  men 
were  present,  with  a  large  congregation.  Simple  D.  R. 
[doubtless  meaning  Daniel  Ruff,]  has  been  an  instru¬ 
ment  of  real  and  great  good  to  the  people  in  these 
parts.” 

When  Mr.  Ruff  traveled  Trenton  circuit  Benjamin 
Abbott’s  house  was  one  of  his  preaching  places.*  The 
latter  was  much  engaged  for  the  blessing  of  sanctifica¬ 
tion.  Ruff  went  to  his  house  and  preached,  and  in  the 
morning,  in  family  prayer,  he  prayed  that  God  would 
sanctify  them  soul  and  body.  “I  repeated,”  says  Ab¬ 
bott,  “these  wTords  after  him,  4  Come,  Lord,  and  sanc¬ 
tify  me,  soul  and  body  !’  That  moment  the  Spirit  of 
God  came  upon  me  in  such  a  manner  that  I  fell  flat  to 
the  floor,  and  lay  as  one  strangling  in  blood,  while  my 
wife  and  children  stood  weeping  over  me.  But  I  had 
not  power  to  lift  hand  or  foot,  nor  yet  to  speak  one 
word  ;  I  believe  I  lay  half  an  hour,  and  felt  the  power 
of  God  running  through  every  part  of  my  soul  and 
body,  like  fire  consuming  the  inward  corruptions  of  fallen, 
depraved  nature.  When  I  arose  and  "walked  out  of  the 
door,  and  stood  pondering  these  things  in  my  heart,  it 
appeared  to  me  that  the  whole  creation  was  praising 
God;  it  also  appeared  as  if  I  had  got  new  eyes,  for 
everything  appeared  new,  and  I  felt  a  love  for  all  the 


DARK  DAYS. 


101 


creatures  that  God  had  made,  and  an  uninterrupted 
peace  filled  my  breast.  In  three  days  God  gave  me  a 
full  assurance  that  he  had  sanctified  me,  soul  and  body. 
‘  If  a  man  love  me  he  will  keep  my  words ;  and  my  Fa¬ 
ther  will  love  him  and  we  will  come  unto  him,  and  make 
our  abode  with  him,’  (John  xiv.  23,)  which  I  found  day 
by  day  manifested  to  my  soul  by  the  witness  of  his 
Spirit.” 

Fuff  did  not  long  remain  in  New  Jersey,  as  in  June 
of  this  year  we  find  him  in  Maryland,  preaching  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Freeborn  Garrettson’s  residence.  Rev. 
J.  B.  Wakeley  quotes  the  following  from  the  Life  of  Gar- 
rettson:  “  On  the  Tuesday  following,  in  the  afternoon,  I 
went  to  hear  Mr.  Daniel  Ruff  preach,  and  was  so  op¬ 
pressed  that  I  was  scarcely  able  to  support  my  burden. 
After  preaching  I  called  in  with  D.  R.  at  Mrs.  G’s.  and 
stayed  till  about  nine  o’clock.”  “  On  his  way  home  on 
horseback  that  night,”  continues  Mr.  Wakeley,*  “after  a 
most  desperate  struggle  with  the  enemy,  Mr.  Garrettson 
was  accepted  in  the  Beloved.  He  says,  ‘  I  knew  the 
very  instant  when  I  submitted  to  the  Lord  and  was  will¬ 
ing  that  Christ  should  reign  over  me.  I  likewise  knew 
the  two  sins  which  I  parted  wTith  last,  pride  and  un¬ 
belief.’” 

*  Lost  Chapters  Recovered  from  the  Early  History  of  American 
Methodism. 


102  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

After  enduring  severe  mental  conflicts  in  regard  to  his 
duty  to  preach  the  gospel,  and  having  reached  a  satis¬ 
factory  conclusion  about  the  matter,  “I  received/’  says 
Mr.  Garrettson,  “  a  letter  from  brother  D.  R.  desiring 
me  to  come  and  take  the  circuit  a  few  weeks  while  he 
went  to  Philadelphia.  I  had  no  doubt  but  the  Lord  di¬ 
rected  him  to  write  thus.”*  He  complied  with  the  re¬ 
quest.  When  Mr  Ruff  returned  he  resumed  his  labors 
on  the  circuit  and  Garrettson  went  to  form  a  new  one. 
Mr.  Ruff  solicited  Garrettson  to  attend  the  Conference 
of  1776  at  Baltimore,  which  he  did,  and  was  received  on 
trial  and  appointed  to  a  circuit. f 

In  1776,  Mr.  Ruff  was  appointed  to  Hew  York.  He 
was  the  first  American  preacher  that  was  stationed  at 
Wesley  Chapel,  the  first  Church  built  in  that  city. 
Several  reasons  conspired  to  render  this  a  difficult  ap¬ 
pointment.  The  preacher  stationed  there  the  previous 
year  had  left  the  Methodists  and  the  society  had  become 
greatly  diminished,  as  they  were  left  destitute  of  the 
advantages  of  pastoral  attention  and  oversight :  and 
“the  revolutionary  troubles  were  increasing.  New  York 
was  beginning  to  be  the  theatre  where  awful  trage¬ 
dies  were  performed.  The  curtain  was  raised  and  the 
actors  were  performing  their  parts,  at  which  humanity 

*  The  experience  and  travels  of  Mr.  Freeborn  Garrettson,  etc. ; 
Philadelphia,  1791.  f  Ibid. 


DARK  DAYS. 


103 


shudders.  AVe  cannot  wonder  that  Mr.  Ruff  considered 
it  unsafe  to  remain  in  New  York  and  therefore  aban¬ 
doned  a  scene  of  so  much  confusion  and  suffering.”* 

Mr.  Ruff  labored  in  New  Jersey  at  four  different 
times.  During  one  of  the  periods  of  his  ministry  there 
an  incident  occurred,  which  may,  perhaps,  he  regarded 
as  illustrative  of  the  command  which  Jesus  once  gave  to 
a  certain  man  to  not  tarry  to  bury  even  the  dead  of  his 
household,  but  to  go  and  preach  the  Kingdom  of  God. 
A  man  by  the  name  of  Robert  Turner,  went  from  New 
Jersey  into  the  peninsula  and  was  useful  there  in  preach¬ 
ing.  Lewis  Alfrey,  who  had  been  an  extravagant  sin¬ 
ner,  was  convinced  through  his  labors,  and  afterward  be¬ 
came  a  useful  preacher.  Turner  returned  to  his  family 
for  the  purpose  of  settling  his  affairs,  intending  to  give 
himself  wholly  to'the  ministry  after  a  few  weeks.  Ruff 
pressed  him  to  go  into  the  circuit  before  the  time  he  in¬ 
tended,  saying,  “  Suppose  you  had  but  a  fortnight  to 
live  would  you  not  go  ?”  He  replied  he  would.  By  the 
time  Ruff  came  round  again,  about  a  fortnight,  Turner 
died  of  the  small-pox. f  In  1780  Mr.  Ruff  was  stationed 
in  Baltimore  in  connection  with  Freeborn  Garrettson  and 
Joshua  Dudley.  At  the  ensuing  Conference  he  located. 
He  probably  labored  more  in  New  Jersey  than  any  other 
preacher  of  his  time. 

*  Wakeley’s  Lost  Chapters.  f  Asbury’s  Journal. 


104  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

William  Duke  joined  the  Conference  in  1774,  and 
was  appointed  to  Frederick  circuit  with  Philip  Gatch. 
He  was  then  quite  a  youth.  This  year,  1775,  he  is  sent 
to  New  Jersey,  and  in  1776  to  Brunswick  ;  in  1777  he 
was  stationed  in  Philadelphia,  and  in  1778  he  was  sent 
to  Carolina.  He  joined  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
and  resided  in  Elkton,  Maryland,  where  he  died  in  1840. 
Mr.  Duke  was  intimately  acquainted  with  Captain  Webb, 
and  often  heard  him  preach.  He  greatly  admired  him, 
though  he  thought  him  a  little  visionary.  He  was  accus¬ 
tomed  to  relate  many  interesting  anecdotes  concerning  him. 
Captain  Webb  entertained  a  high  regard  for  Mr.  Duke  and 
presented  him  with  his  Greek  Testament,  which  he  kept 
for  many  years,  and  then  gave  it  to  Rev.  J.  B.  Hagany, 
and  he  presented  it  to  Bishop  Scott,  who  preserves  it  as 
a  memento  “  of  the  old  soldier,  who  fought  so  nobly  the 
battles  of  the  cross.” 

Before  the  close  of  this  Conference  year,  Asbury  again 
appears  in  New  Jersey,  rallying  the  feeble  and  broken 
detachments  of  the  cause  to  more  earnest  battle.  On 
Tuesday,  the  22nd  of  April,  1776,  he  rode  to  Burlington 
from  Philadelphia,  and  on  the  way  he  says,  “My  soul 
was  filled  with  holy  peace,  and  employed  in  heavenly 
contemplations ;  but  found  to  my  grief  that  many  had  so 
imbibed  a  martial  spirit  that  they  had  lost  the  spirit  of 
pure  and  undefiled  religion.  I  preached  from  Rom.  xiii. 


DARK  DAYS. 


105 


2,  but  found  it  a  dry  and  barren  time.  And  some  who 
once  ran  well  now  walk  disorderly.  On  Wednesday  I 
rode  to  Trenton,  and  found  very  little  there  but  spiritual 
deadness.  Had  very  little  liberty  in  preaching  among 
them ;  thus  has  the  Lord  humbled  me  amongst  my  peo¬ 
ple.  But  I  hope  through  grace  to  save  myself,  and  at 
least  some  that  hear  me.” 

The  next  day  he  rode  about  eleven  miles,  and  preached 
to  a  people  who  manifested  very  little  feeling  under  the 
word;  “but  at  I.  B’s.  the  next  day  there  was  more  sen¬ 
sibility  amongst  the  congregation ;  and,  though  very  un¬ 
well,  I  found  my  heart  warm  and  expanded  in  preaching 
to  them.  It  is  my  present  determination  to  be  more 
faithful  in  speaking  to  all  that  fall  in  my  way,  about 
spiritual  and  eternal  matters.  The  people  were  very 
tender  at  friend  i”s.  on  Saturday.  And  on  the  Lord’s 
day  I  spoke  feelingly  and  pointedly  to  about  three  hun¬ 
dred  souls  at  the  meeting  house.  Afterward  I  returned, 
through  the  rain,  to  Trenton,  and  was  well  rewarded  in 
my  own  soul,  while  preaching  to  the  congregation  at 
night.  I  felt  every  word,  which  seemed  to  cut  like  a  two 
edged  sword,  and  put  me  in  mind  of  some  of  my  former 
visits.  May  the  Lord  revive  his  work  amongst  them 
again,  and  make  the  time  to  come  better  than  the  former 
time  !” 

While  Asbury  was  abundant  in  labors  for  the  cause  of 


106  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

God  and  Methodism,  in  New  Jersey  and  elsewhere,  he 
was  the  subject  of  mighty  assaults  from  the  adversary. 
During  his  present  tour  in  New  Jersey,  he  writes, 
“  Satan  beset  me  with  powerful  suggestions,  striving  to 
persuade  me  that  I  should  never  conquer  all  my  spiritual 
enemies,  but  be  overcome  at  last.  However,  the  Lord 
was  near,  and  filled  my  soul  with  peace.  Blessed  Lord, 
be  ever  near  me,  and  suffer  me  not  to  yield  to  the  temp¬ 
ter  ;  no,  not  for  a  moment !” 

On  the  30th  of  April  he  attended  a  Quarterly-meeting 
at  Hopewell.  The  love-feast  was  an  interesting  and 
powerful  season.  Many  related  their  Christian  experi¬ 
ence.  He  lectured  in  the  evening  at  I.  B’s.  though  very 
weary,  “but  my  heart,”  he  says,  “is  with  God,  and  I 
know  we  cannot  tire  or  wear  out  in  a  better  cause.” 
The  following  day  he  rode  back  to  Trenton,  where  he 
preached  to  about  a  hundred  souls,  and  then  traveled 
about  thirty  miles  to  another  stopping  place. 

On  the  second  of  May  he  preached  at  Mount  Holly. 
“Some  melted  under  the  word,  though,  at  first,  they 
seemed  inattentive  and  careless.”  He  says,  “The  grace 
of  God  kept  my  spirit  this  day  in  sweet  seriousness 
without  any  mixture  of  sourness.”  The  next  day  but 
one  he  was  at  New  Mills.  A  Chapel  was  already 
erected  there,  and  he  preached  in  it  with  fervor  but 
not  with  freedom  from  Matt.  vii.  7 ;  it  was,  probably, 


DARK  DAYS. 


107 


in  process  of  being  completed,  as  he  says,  “  1  found  bro¬ 
ther  W.  very  busy  about  his  Chapel,  which  is  thirty-six 
feet  by  twenty-eight,  with  a  gallery  ten  feet  deep.”  He 
spent  the  Sabbath  at  New  Mills,  and  preached,  and  it 
was  a  heart-affecting  season.  He  then  returned  to 
Philadelphia,  but  went,  he  says,  under  a  heavy  gloom  of 
mind,  and  found  his  spirit  “much  shut  up.” 

During  this  year,  Abbott,  with  apostolic  zeal,  marvel¬ 
ous  faith,  and  overwhelming  eloquence,  was  storming  the 
citadel  of  the  enemy  in  West  Jersey.  It  was  at  about 
this  period  that  he  bore  the  banner  of  Methodism  into 
the  town  of  Salem.  A  gentleman  there  invited  him  to 
preach  at  his  house,  and  on  the  next  Sabbath  after  he 
received  the  invitation  he  proclaimed  the  truth  there 
with  characteristic  energy  and  power  to  a  large  congre¬ 
gation.  Some  cried  out  under  the  sermon ;  many  wTere 
in  tears.  He  made  another  appointment  in  two  weeks 
from  that  day  at  eleven  o’clock.  An  elder  in  the  Pres¬ 
byterian  Church,  who  was  present,  asked  him  if  he  would 
preach  at  his  house.  He  told  him  he  would  that  day  two 
weeks,  at  three  o’clock.  At  the  time  appointed  he  was 
at  his  post  and  preached  at  both  places  to  many  people. 
At  the  first,  he  enjoyed  much  freedom  in  speaking,  and 
after  the  sermon,  found  that  both  the  man  and  his  wife, 
in  whose  house  the  service  was  held,  were  awakened. 
At  the  next,  great  power  attended  the  word,  several  cried 


108  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

aloud  and  one  fell  to  the  floor.  After  meeting  he  asked 
the  man  of  the  house  if  he  knew  what  he  had  done  ? 
“What  have  I  done?”  he  replied.  Said  Abbott,  “You 
have  opened  your  door  to  the  Methodists,  and  if  a  work 
of  religion  break  out,  your  people  will  turn  you  out  of 
their  synagogue.”  He  replied  he  would  die  for  the  truth. 
He  repeated  the  appointment  at  both  places.  On  his 
way  home  he  met  with  one  of  Whitefield’s  converts,  who 
had  known  the  Lord  forty  years.  He  was,  says  Abbott, 
an  Israelite  indeed.  They  enjoyed  great  comfort  in  con¬ 
versing  on  the  things  of  God.  He  afterward  died  at 
Abbott’s  house,  “happy  in  God.” 

The  following  Sabbath  he  preached  at  Hell  Neck,  a 
place  which  received  its  name  on  account  of  the  wicked¬ 
ness  of  the  people.  One  said  he  had  heard  Abbott 
swear,  and  had  seen  him  fight,  and  now  he  would  go  and 
hear  him  preach.  He  was  awakened  under  the  word, 
and  soon  after  was  converted.  Abbott  received  several 
invitations  to  preach  through  the  neighborhood,  and  a 
revival  of  religion  followed.  Among  those  who  were  the 
subjects  of  the  work  was  a  lad  of  fifteen.  His  father 
was  a  great  enemy  of  religion,  and  determined  to  pre¬ 
vent  his  being  a  Methodist,  and  even  whipped  him  for 
praying.  This  resulted  in  leading  him  to  the  borders  of 
despair,  and  he  was  tempted  to  think  he  had  sinned 
against  the  Holy  Ghost.  Abbott  heard  of  it  and  went 


DARK  DAYS. 


109 


to  see  him.  He  told  him  his  temptations,  and  cried  out. 
“  There,  I  have  now  done  it !”  and  clapped  his  hands  on 
his  mouth.  Abbott  told  him  he  had  not  done  it,  and 
would  not  do  it  for  the  world.  His  father  soon  came  in, 
and  he  warned  him  against  such  conduct  towards  his  son, 
but  he  replied  that  it  was  all  delusion.  “  Who  told  you 
so?”  said  Abbott  “  D.  P.,  ”  said  he,  “and  he  is  a 
Presbyterian  and  a  good  man.”  “  Tell  D.  P.  that  he  is 
a  deceived  man,”  said  Abbott,  “for  that  is  the  true  work 
of  God  upon  your  son.”  The  son  then  cried  out,  “  The 
Lord  is  here!  The  Lord  is  here!”  The  father,  address¬ 
ing  Abbott,  said,  “Benjamin,  are  you  not  a  Free 
Mason?”  He  replied  no  ;  that  he  knew  nothing  of  Free 
Masonry,  but  he  knew  this  was  the  operation  of  the 
Spirit  of  God.  The  father  then  wept.  Abbott  prayed, 
and  the  family  were  all  in  tears.  After  this  the  son  went 
on  joyfully. 

Abbott  then  went  to  another  of  the  neighbors,  and 
talked  and  prayed  with  them.  The  man  kneeled,  but 
the  woman  continued  knitting  during  the  prayer.  When 
he  arose  he  took  her  by  the  hand  and  said,  “  Do  you 
pray?”  then,  looking  steadfastly  at  her,  added,  “God 
pity  you.”  This  pierced  her  heart,  so  that  she  had  no 
rest  until  she  obtained  mercy  of  the  Lord. 

The  excitement  reached  such  a  height  that  the  whole 
neighborhood  seemed  in  a  state  of  alarm.  A  Quaker 

►7 

4 


110  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

went  to  hear  him,  and  asked  him  to  his  house.  He 
went,  and  when  he  entered  he  said,  “  God  has  brought 
salvation  to  this  house.”  While  at  prayer  in  the  even¬ 
ing,  a  daughter  of  his  host  was  convicted,  and  soon  after, 
the  Quaker,  his  wife,  three  sons,  and  two  daughters  ex¬ 
perienced  religion,  and  as  the  fruit  of  the  revival  they 
had  a  considerable  society  in  the  place. 

He  extended  his  labors  also  into  Mannington,  where 
great  congregations  assembled  to  hear  him  preach.  At 
one  place  where  he  preached,  the  minister  of  the  parish  at¬ 
tended.  “  I  felt,  at  first,”  he  says,  “  a  great  cross  to  preach 
before  him,  he  being  a  learned  man,  and  I  supposed  had 
come  to  hear  me  with  an  evil  design,  as  appeared  after¬ 
ward  to  be  the  case.  However,  I  prayed  to  the  ‘Lord 
not  to  let  me  he  confounded.  After  I  began,  my  cross 
was  but  light,  and  the  minister,  who  sat  before  me,  was 
no  more  than  another  sinner.  The  power  of  God  rested 
upon  us,  and  several  cried  out  aloud,  and  two  fell  to  the 
floor,  agonizing  for  salvation.  I  tarried  all  night,  and 
the  minister  and  five  or  six  of  the  heads  of  the  Presby¬ 
terian  meeting,  spent  the  evening  with  me,  in  order  to 
dispute,  and  pick  me  to  pieces  if  possible.  The  minister 
asked  me  if  I  was  a  Wesleyan :  I  answered,  Yes.  ‘  Then,’ 
said  he,  ‘you  deny  the  perseverance  of  the  saints.’  God 
forbid,  said  I,  for  none  can  be  saved  unless  they  perse¬ 
vere  to  the  end.  ‘Then,’  said  he,  ‘you  believe  the  pos- 


DAftK  DAYS. 


Ill 


sibility  of  falling  from  grace.’  I  answered,  Yes.  He 

then,  in  a  very  abrupt  manner,  gave  me  the  lie ;  but, 

when  I  told  him  that  I  could  prove  the  doctrine  by  the 

word  of  God,  he  very  passionately  gave  me  the  lie  again. 

I  quoted  sundry  scriptures,  particularly  that  of  David’s 

fall,  and  turned  to  Ezek.  chapter  iii.,  verses  20  and  21, 

and  wished  him  to  read  and  explain  the  passage;  but  he 

would  not  touch  the  Bible.  His  elder  said  it  read  as  I 

said,  and  he  ought  to  explain  it.  He,  in  a  passion,  said 

he  was  brought  up  at  a  college,  and  certainly  knew;  but 

I  was  a  fool,  and  he  could  cut  such  a  fellow’s  throat ; 

then  turned  to  his  elder  and  said,  ‘  If  there  was  a  dog’s 

head  on  your  shoulders,  I  would  cut  it  off.  Do  not  you 

know  the  articles  of  your  own  Church?  I  will  teach 

you  better.’  I  told  him  the  curse  of  God  was  upon  all 

\ 

such  watchmen  as  he  was,  who  did  not  warn  the  people 
against  sin;  that  if  they  lived  and  died  in  sin,  they  could 
not  be  saved,  and  by  his  doctrine  souls  might  fall  away 
and  perish,  but  their  blood  would  be  found  in  his  skirts. 
He  replied,  ‘  I  could  cut  such  a  fellow’s  throat ;  it  makes 
my  blood  boil  to  hear  the  perseverance  of  the  saints  de¬ 
nied.’  I  then  handed  him  the  Bible,  and  desired  him  to 
clear  it  up.  ‘  But,’  said  he,  ‘  you  are  a  fool,  you  know 
nothing  at  all.  I  was  brought  up  at  college,  and  I  will 
have  you  before  your  betters.’  He  got  so  angry  that  he 
could  say  but  little  more.  I  told  him  that  if  we  were 


112  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

ambassadors  for  Christ,  we  ought  to  go  on  hand  and 
heart  to  attack  the  devil  in  all  his  strong  holds.  And 
then  asked  the  man  of  the  house  if  I  should  preach  there 
again  ;  but  the  answer  was,  No.  So  this  place  was  shut 
against  me  through  the  influence  of  the  minister.  But, 
glory  to  God,  there  were  doors  opened  in  Mannington, 
so  that  I  was  at  no  loss  for  places  to  preach  at.” 

One  of  his  old  companions  invited  him  to  preach  in 
his  house  at  Woodstown;  he  accepted  the  invitation  and 
preached  there  to  a  crowded  house.  While  he  was 
speaking,  a  mob  of  soldiers  came  with  their  guns,  and 
bayonets  fixed,  and  one  rushed  in,  while  the  rest  sur¬ 
rounded  the  door ;  the  people  fled  every  way,  and  the  sol¬ 
dier  presented  his  bayonet  to  Abbott  as  though  he  would 
pierce  him  through  ;  it  passed  twice  close  by  his  ear.  “  If 
ever  I  preached  the  terrors  of  the  law,”  he  says,  “I  did 
it  while  he  was  threatening  me  in  this  manner,  for  I  felt 
no  fear  of  death,  and  soon  found  he  could  not  withstand 
the  force  of  truth  ;  he  gave  way  and  retreated  to  the 
door.  They  endeavored  to  send  him  back  again,  but  in 
vain,  for  he  refused  to  return.  However,  I  went  on,  and 
finished  my  discourse,  and  then  asked  the  man  of  the 
house  if  I  should  preach  there  again.  He  said  No,  for 
they  will  pull  down  my  house.  But  Dr.  Harris  told  me 
I  might  preach  in  his  house.  In  two  weeks  I  attended 
at  the  Doctor’s,  and  found  about  one  hundred  men  under 


DARK  DAYS. 


113 


arms.  When  I  began  to  preach,  they  grounded  their 
arms,  and  heard  me  in  a  quiet,  orderly  manner.” 

In  1776  the  Conference  was  held  in  Baltimore.  It 
commenced  on  the  twenty-first  of  May.  Asbury  was 
prevented  from  attending  this  Conference,  much  to  his 
regret,  on  account  of  bodily  indisposition.  Watters, 
who  was  present,  describes  it  as  a  good  and  refreshing 
season.  “  We  were  of  one  heart  and  mind,”  he  says, 
“and  took  sweet  counsel  together,  not  how  we  should 
get  riches  or  honors,  or  anything  that  this  poor  world 
could  afford  us ;  but,  how  we  should  make  the  surest 
work  for  heaven  and  eternal  happiness,  and  be  the  in¬ 
struments  of  saving  others.  We  had  a  powerful  time  in 
our  love-feast,  a  little  before  we  parted,  while  we  sat  at 
our  Divine  Master’sHeet,  and  gladly  heard  each  other 
tell  what  the  Lord  had  done  for  us  in  the  different  places 
in  which  we  had  been  laboring.” 

Owing,  doubtless,  to  the  declension  of  the  cause  in 
New  Jersey,  the  work  there  Avas  again  thrown  into  one 
circuit,  which  Robert  Lindsay  and  John  Cooper  were  ap¬ 
pointed  to  travel.  The  causes  of  the  last  year’s  de¬ 
crease  still  existed,  so  that  no  marked  progress  was 
made.  Still,  the  cause  did  not  retrograde,  but  there  was 
an  increase  of  ten  members  during  the  year.  Lindsay, 
the  preacher  in  charge,  was  an  Irishman  by  birth.  He 
went  to  Europe  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  in 


114  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

1778  his  name  disappears  from  the  minutes,  hut  Lee  says 
he  traveled  and  preached  until  1788. 

One  of  the  heroes  of  his  day  was  John  Cooper,  a 
modest,  unpretentious  man,  of  good  abilities,  and  of  a 
self  sacrificing  spirit.  The  early  Methodists  were  re¬ 
markable  for  their  habits  of  devotion ;  illustrating  in  a 
good  degree  the  apostle’s  injunction,  to  “  pray  without 
ceasing.”  When  Cooper  obtained  religion  and  united 
with  the  Methodists,  he  became  a  man  of  prayer.  His 
father,  finding  him  at  one  time  engaged  in  this  exercise 
in  an  apartment  of  his  dwelling,  and  being  enraged  at 
this  exhibition  of  his  religion  and  Methodism,  threw  a 
shovel  of  burning  embers  upon  him.  Not  content  with 
this  he  afterward  expelled  him  from  his  house.  Persecu¬ 
tion,  however,  could  not  destroy  his  attachment  to  the 
cause  of  his  Saviour,  nor  turn  him  away  from  the  path 
of  duty. 

He  entered  the  itinerancy  when  it  promised  its  votaries 
nothing  but  extensive  travels  among  strangers,  frequent 
removals,  hard  labor,  poor  fare,  and  the  contempt  of  the 
ungodly  world.  But  with  a  resolute  faith  he  threw  him¬ 
self  into  the  ranks,  and  heroically  fought  at  the  various 
posts  assigned  him,  until  he  fell  with  a  wreath  of  glory 
upon  his  brow,  a  victor  on  the  field.  During  fifteen 
years  of  the  most  trying  period  in  the  history  of  the 
cause,  he  went  to  and  fro,  traveling  circuits  which,  in 


DARK  DAYS. 


115 


extent,  were  greater  than  some  whole  Conference  terri¬ 
tories  at  present  are,  the  area  of  his  labors  reaching  from 
New  Jersey  to  Virginia. 

He  suffered  from  poverty,  being  often  in  want,  as  the 
labors  of  a  Methodist  preacher,  in  those  days,  were  not 
productive  of  pecuniary  gain,  as  they  have  never  been, 
nor  in  many  instances  did  those  hard-working  itinerants 
always  then  enjoy  the  commonest  comforts  of  life.  But 
with  all  his  afflictions  (for  he  was  a  man  of  affliction) 
and  his  privations  he  murmured  not,  nor  would  he  even 
make  his  wants  known  until  they  were  observed  by  his 
friends,  and  relief  afforded  him.  He  was  admitted  on 
trial  at  the  Conference  of  1775,  having  been  recom¬ 
mended  by  Philip  Gatch,  with  whom  he  was  appointed 
to  labor  on  Kent  circuit,  in  Maryland.  He  closed  his 
sufferings  and  toils  in  1788  or  1789.  He  was  a  man  of 
grave  and  fixed  countenance,  and  his  public  exercises 
were  solemn.  He  was  quiet,  inoffensive,  and  blameless, 
and  subject  to  dejection.  His  end  was  peace. 

This  year  the  tempest  of  war  swept  terrifically  over 
New  Jersey,  and  such  was  the  alarm  and  suffering  among 
the  people  that  it  seemed,  to  human  eyes,  absolutely  out 
of  the  question  for  religion,  and  especially  Methodism, 
to  prosper.  Indeed,  could  it  have  maintained  its  posi¬ 
tion  only,  it  would  have  been  a  great  success.  Though 
the  decrease  the  last  year  was  great,  yet,  as  we  have 


116  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

seen,  there  was  a  little  gain  realized  this  year.  This 
was  a  triumph.  The  preachers  were  generally  consid¬ 
ered  unfriendly  to  the  American  cause,  on  account  of 
the  imprudent  conduct  of  the  English  preachers,  who 
were  compelled  to  leave  the  country ;  and  the  word 
Methodist,  to  the  popular  ear,  was  the  synonym  of  tory. 
That  this  was  unjust,  of  course  the  world  now  knows ; 
for  Methodism  has  always  been  as  loyal  to  the  cause  of 
human  liberty  as  any  other  Christian  sect.  But  as  is 
often  the  case,  the  improper  conduct  of  a  few  subjected 
the  rest  to  unmerited  reproach  and  suffering. 

As  Washington  retreated  into  Pennsylvania,  nearly 
the  whole  of  New  Jersey  was  abandoned  to  the  British 
troops,  who  chose  their  winter  quarters  where  they 
pleased.  The  sufferings  of  Jerseymen  were  conse¬ 
quently  terrible.  Women  and  children  fled,  in  winter, 
not  knowing  whither  they  went,  while  many  a  brave 
hearted  man  abandoned  his  well  furnished  house  and 
farm  to  destruction  rather  than  remain  and  trust  himself 
to  the  mercy  of  the  invading  foe.  This  portentous  year 
closed,  however,  victoriously  on  the  side  of  America. 
The  Rev.  Thomas  Ware,  who  was  a  Revolutionary  sol¬ 
dier,  says;  “Washington,  by  two  masterly  strokes  of 
generalship,  first  on  the  TIessians  at  Trenton,  and  sec¬ 
ondly  on  the  rear  of  the  British  army  at  Princeton, 
where  another  part  of  the  army  was  compelled  to  lay 


DARK  DAYS. 


117 


down  their  arms,  completely  turned  the  tables  on  our 
enemies,  and  closed  the  campaign  of  1776  with  shouting 
on  the  American  side. 

“  Many  have  heard  the  fame  of  these  great  transac¬ 
tions,  and  some  I  have  heard  talk  of  them  as  if  Wash¬ 
ington  thereby  barely  wiped  off  the  reproach  of  his  late 
retreat :  but  had  they  lived  in  that  portentous  day,  and 
felt  the  throb  I  felt,  and  millions  more,  they  would  tell  a 
different  tale.  Each  stroke  was  death.  The  first  was 
death  to  British  pride ;  for,  by  it  all  the  fame  of  their 
mighty  deeds  that  had  gone  out  over  the  floods  was 
blasted,  and  by  the  second  all  their  sanguine  hopes  of 
conquest  were  at  an  end.  The  first  stroke  swept  our 
whole  western  hemisphere ;  the  proud  forgiver  of  our 
sins  fled  from  thosp  they  came  to  pardon ;  and  the  sec¬ 
ond  compelled  the  mighty  subduers  of  our  continent  to 
retreat,  and  shut  themselves  up  in  New  Brunswick.”* 

Before  this  distressing  period  Methodism  had  been  in¬ 
troduced  into  East  Jersey,  but  such  was  now  the  state 
of  things,  no  Methodist  preacher  could  travel  there.  It 
was  a  long  time  before  they  could  resume  their  labors  in 
that  part  of  the  state ;  and  consequently  they  turned 
their  attention  to  West  Jersey,  which  was  open  to  reli- 

*  Rev.  Thomas  Ware’s  article  entitled  u  The  Introduction  of 
Methodism  in  the  Lower  part  of  West  Jersey,”  Christian  Advocate 
and  Journal,  1831,  p.  118. 


118  MEMORIALS  OE  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

gious  culture,  and  which  has  yielded  more  abundant  fruit 
to  Methodism  than  the  eastern  portion  of  the  state. 

The  Conference  of  1777  was  held  at  Deer  Creek, 
Harford  county,  Md.  The  minutes  say  it  was  held  in 
the  “preaching  house,”  but  Mr.  Watters  says  it  was  in 
his  eldest  brother’s  house.  There  were  now  twenty- 
seven  traveling  preachers  in  the  connection,  twenty  of 
whom  were  present  at  this  Conference.  It  was  a  gra¬ 
cious  and  memorable  occasion.  Asbury  preached  on  the 
charge  which  our  Lord  gave  to  his  apostles,  which  was 
peculiarly  appropriate  to  their  circumstances,  “  Behold, 
I  send  you  forth  as  sheep  in  the  midst  of  wolves  :  be  ye 
therefore  wise  as  serpents,  and  harmless  as  doves.” 

Both  the  “  public  and  private  business  was  conducted 
with  great  harmony,  peace,  and  love.”  As  there  ap¬ 
peared  to  be  no  prospect  of  a  speedy  termination  of  the 
contests  between  this  country  and  Great  Britain,  several 
of  the  English  preachers  thought  they  would  return 
home,  if  the  way  opened  in  the  course  of  the  year,  and 
to  provide  against  such  an  event  a  committee,  consisting 
of  five  of  the  American  preachers,  viz.  :  Watters,  Gatch, 
Dromgoold,  Buff,  and  Glendining,  was  appointed  to  act 
in  the  place  of  the  general  assistant,  in  case  he  should 
leave  before  the  next  Conference.  It  was  also  submitted 
whether,  as  few  ministers  Avere  left  in  many  of  the  pa¬ 
rishes  to  administer  the  Sacraments,  the  preachers  should 


DARK  DAYS. 


119 


not  administer  them  themselves,  and  thus  avoid  being 
dependent  upon  other  denominations  for  them ;  for  while 
the  greater  part  received  them  from  the  Episcopal 
Church,  some  received  them  from  the  Presbyterians.* 
“  In  fact,”  says  Watters,  “  we  considered  ourselves,  at 
this  time,  as  belonging  to  the  Church  of  England,  it  be¬ 
ing  before  our  separation  and  our  becoming  a  regularly 
formed  Church.”  After  much  conversation  upon  the 
subject,  it  was  finally  agreed  unanimously  to  lay  the 
question  over  until  the  next  Conference.  The  Confer¬ 
ence  ended  with  a  watch-night  and  love-feast.  Asbury 
says  it  was  “  a  great  time — a  season  of  uncommon  affec¬ 
tion.”  “I  never  saw,”  says  Watters,  “so  affecting  a 
scene,  at  the  parting  of  the  preachers,  before.  Our 
'hearts  wTere  knit  together,  as  the  hearts  of  David  and 
Jonathan,  and  we  wnre  obliged  to  use  great  violence  to 
our  feelings  in  tearing  ourselves  asunder.  This  was  the 
last  time  I  ever  saw  my  very  worthy  friends  and  fathers, 
Rankin  and  Shadford.” 

At  this  Conference  Henry  Kennedy  and  Thomas 
M’Clure  were  appointed  to  New  Jersey,  which  still  re¬ 
mained  one  circuit.  Kennedy’s  name  appears  on  the 
minutes,  for  the  first  time,  this  year,  and  after  being  ap¬ 
pointed  to  Caroline  the  following  year,  he  must  have  de¬ 
sisted  from  traveling,  as  his  name  disappears  from  the 


*  Life  of  Watters. 


120  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY". 

minutes;  but  in  Asbury’s  Journal  of  April  14,  1780,  it 
is  written,  “Thomas  M’Clure  is  confined  sick  in  Phila¬ 
delphia,  Henry  Kennedy  and  William  Adams*  are  dead; 
so  the  Lord  cuts  off  the  watchmen  of  Israel.  But  sure  I 
am  that  it  is  better  to  die  early  than  to  live,  though  late, 
to  dishonor  God.”  M’Clure  was  admitted  on  trial  at  the 
Conference  of  1776,  and  appointed  to  Fairfax,  the  next 
year  he  was  sent  to  New  Jersey  and  the  year  following 
to  Baltimore.  In  1779  he  was  appointed  to  Kent  cir¬ 
cuit.  In  1780  his  name  does  not  appear  in  the  minutes. 
In  1781  he  was  appointed  to  Somerset,  and  in  1782  his 
name  is  again  absent  from  the  minutes.  Asbury  speaks 
of  him  in  a  way  which  indicates  that  he  sustained  a  very 
respectable  position  in  our  early  ministry. 

At  the  end  of  this  year  the  members  in  the  whole  con¬ 
nection  are  reported  in  the  aggregate,  so  that  we  cannot 
determine  what  was  the  number  in  New  Jersey.  The 
entire  number  of  members,  however,  reported  at  the 
Conference  of  1778,  was  six  thousand  and  ninety-five, 
being  an  increase,  in  five  years,  for  the  whole  Church, 
of  five  thousand  nine  hundred  and  thirty-five,  an  average 
of  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  eighty-seven  a  year. 
There  were  also  twenty-nine  traveling  preachers  in  the  con¬ 
nection,  being  an  increase  of  nineteen  in  the  same  period. 

At  the  Conference  of  1777,  it  was  asked  in  Confer¬ 
ence,  “As  the  present  distress  is  such,  are  the  preachers 
*  Adams  was  brother-in-law  to  Watters. 


DARK  DAYS. 


121 


resolved  to  take  no  step  to  detach  themselves  from  the 
work  of  God  for  the  ensuing  year?”  To  which  it  was 
answered,  “We  purpose,  by  the  grace  of  God,  not  to 
take  any  step  that  may  separate  us  from  the  brethren, 
or  from  the  blessed  work  in  which  we  are  engaged.” 
None  of  the  English  preachers  appear  to  have  remained 
in  the  country  longer  than  1778,  except  Asbury. 

In  1778  the  storm  of  the  revolution  raged  so  high 
that  Asbury  and  Shadford  agreed  to  make  it  a  matter 
of  prayer  and  fasting  whether  they  should  remain  in  this 
country  or  return  to  England.  The  latter  concluded 
that  it  was  his  duty  to  leave  the  country,  but  Asbury  be¬ 
lieved  that  the  intimations  of  the  Divine  will  to  him  wrere 
that  he  should  remain ;  accordingly  he  replied  to  Shad- 
^ford,  “  If  you  are  called  to  go,  I  am  called  to  stay;  so 
we  must  part.”  “From  that  moment,”  says  Rev.  E. 
Cooper,  “  he  made  America  his  home.  He  resolved  to 
abide  among  us,  and  at  the  risk  of  all,  even  of  life  itself, 
to  continue  to  labor  and  to  suffer  with  and  for  his  Ameri¬ 
can  brethren. 

“  Oppositions,  reproaches,  and  persecutions  rushed  in 
against  them,  from  every  quarter  in  various  forms,  like 
a  tempest  and  a  flood.  During  the  whole  period  of  con¬ 
flict  and  danger  his  manner  of  life  was  irreproachable. 
His  prudence  and  caution,  as  a  man  and  a  citizen ;  his 
pious  and  correct  deportment,  as  a  Christian  and  a  min- 


122  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

ister,  were  such  as  to  put  at  defiance  the  suspicious  mind 
and  the  tongue  of  persecuting  slander.  They  were 
never  able  to  substantiate  any  allegation,  or  the  appear¬ 
ance  of  a  charge  against  him  that  was  incompatible  with 
the  character  of  a  citizen,  a  Christian,  or  a  faithful  min¬ 
ister  of  the  gospel.  He  never  meddled  with  politics. 
But  in  those  days  of  suspicion  and  alarm,  to  get  a 
preacher  or  a  society  persecuted  they  only  had  to  excite 
suspicion,  sound  the  alarm,  and  cry  out,  ‘  Enemies  to  the 
country,’  or,  ‘tories.’  The  Methodists,  at  one  period, 
were  generally  called  tories  by  those  who  either  knew 
not  the  people,  or  the  meaning  of  the  wrnrd.” 

After  giving  some  account  of  the  persecutions  inflicted 
upon  the  preachers  in  Maryland,  the  venerable  Cooper 
says,  “  During  those  perilous  times  where  was  our  As- 
bury  ?  How  was  he  employed  ?  and  what  was  the  man¬ 
ner  of  his  life  ?  After  having  traveled  and  preached  at 
large,  with  all  the  zeal,  fidelity,  and  caution,  which  pru¬ 
dence  and  wisdom,  situated  and  circumstanced  as  he  was, 
could  dictate ;  he  being  greatly  embarrassed  and  per¬ 
plexed,  and,  withal  much  suspected  as  an  Englishman, 
had,  at  length,  to  retire,  in  a  great  measure,  for  a  sea¬ 
son,  until  the  indignation  was  overpast.  The  spirit  of 
the  times,  the  passions  and  the  prejudices  of  the  people, 
and  the  jealousies  and  suspicions  subsisting  against  him 
as  an  Englishman,  and  as  a  principal  Methodist  preacher, 


DARK  DAYS. 


123 


were  such  that  he  could  not,  with  safety,  continue  to 
travel  openly  and  at  large.  In  the  year  1778,  when  the 
storm  was  at  its  highest,  and  persecution  raged  furiously, 
he,  being  in  serious  danger,  prudently  and  advisedly 
confined  himself,  for  personal  safety,  chiefly  to  the  little 
state  of  Delaware,  where  the  laws  were  rather  more  fa¬ 
vorable,  and  the  rulers  and  influential  men  were  some¬ 
what  more  friendly.  For  a  time  he  had,  even  there,  to 
keep  himself  much  retired.  He  found  an  asylum  as 
his  castle  of  safety,  in  the  house,  and  with  the  hospitable 
family  of  his  firm  friend,  Thomas  White,  Esq.,  one  of  the 
judges  of  the  Court  in  Kent  county,  Delaware.  He 
was  a  pious  man,  and  his  wife  one  of  the  holiest  of  wo¬ 
men  ;  they  Avere  great  friends  to  the  cause  of  religion, 
and  to  the  preachers  generally.  From  this  place  of  re¬ 
treat  and  protection,  as  in  a  castle  of  repose  and  safety, 
he  could  correspond  with  his  suffering  brethren  avIio  were 
scattered  abroad  in  different  parts.  He  could  also  occa¬ 
sionally  travel  about,  visiting  the  societies,  and,  some¬ 
times,  preaching  to  the  people.  He  Avas  accessible  to  all 
the  preachers  and  his  friends  Avho  came  to  see  him,  so 
that  by  means  of  correspondence  and  of  visits,  they 
could  communicate  with  each  other  for  mutual  counsel, 
comfort,  and  encouragement.’'* 

In  his  journal  Asbury  makes  the  folloAying  statement: 

*  Cooper  on  Asbury. 


124  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

“From  March  10,  1778,  on  conscientious  principles,  I 
was  a  non-juror  and  could  not  preach  in  the  state  of  Ma¬ 
ryland  ;  and  therefore  withdrew  to  the  Delaware  state, 
where  the  clergy  were  not  required  to  take  the  state 
oath  ;  though,  with  a  clear  conscience,  I  could  have  taken 
the  oath  of  the  Delaware  state,  had  it  been  required ; 
and  would  have  done  it,  had  I  not  been  prevented  by  a 
tender  fear  of  hurting  the  scrupulous  consciences  of  oth¬ 
ers.  Saint  Paul  saith,  £  When  ye  sin  so  against  the 
brethren  and  wound  their  weak  conscience,  ye  sin  against 
Christ.’  1  Cor.  viii.  12.” 

The  following  passage  from  his  journal  of  Sept.  15, 
1778,  will  indicate  somewhat  the  nature  of  his. feelings 
while  confined  in  Delaware.  “  This  was  a  day  of  pe¬ 
culiar  temptations.  My  trials  were  such  as  I  do  not  re¬ 
member  to  have  experienced  before  ;  and,  for  some  time, 
it  seemed  as  if  I  scarcely  knew  whether  to  fight  or  fly. 
My  usefulness  appeared  to  be  cut  off ;  I  saw  myself  pent 
up  in  a  corner ;  my  body,  in  a  manner,  worn  out ;  my 
English  brethren  gone,  so  that  I  had  no  one  to  consult ; 
and  every  surrounding  object  and  circumstance  wore  a 
gloomy  aspect.  Lord,  must  I  thus  pine  awTay,  and 
quench  the  light  of  Israel  ?  No  !  though  he  slay  me 
yet  will  I  trust  in  him.”  His  necessary  seclusion  was 
not  spent  in  idleness.  “On  the  contrary,”  he  says, 
“  except  about  two  months  of  retirement  from  the  direst 


DARK  DAYS. 


125 


necessity,  it  was  the  most  active,  the  most  useful,  and 
the  most  afflictive  part  of  my  life.” 

The  Conference  of  1778  was  held  at  Leesburg,  Va., 
on  the  19th  of  May.  Asbury  was  not  present,  and  for 
prudential  reasons,  doubtless,  his  name  does  not  appear 
on  the  minutes  for  that  year.  The  fact  of  his  being  an 
Englishman  “was  enough  with  some,”  says  Watters, 
“  why  he  should  be  suspected  as  unfriendly  to  our  cause 
and  country,  though  I  will  venture  to  say  that  his  great¬ 
est  enemy  could  allege  nothing  else  against  him,  nor 
even  that  with  propriety.”  Daniel  Ruff  was  the  only 
traveling  preacher  appointed  to  labor  in  New  Jersey, 
but  Abbott  was  still  laboring  most  energetically  as  a  lo¬ 
cal  preacher,  and  did  more  work  probably,  than  is  now 
performed  by  any  regular  Methodist  clergyman  in  the 
state.  His  labors  were  productive  of  large  and  glorious 
results.  It  was  probably  not  far  from  this  year,  and 
perhaps  during  it,  that  he  attended  a  quarterly  meeting 
at  Morris  River.  It  was  a  powerful  season.  “The  slain,” 
he  says,  “  lay  all  through  the  house,  and  round  it,  and 
in  the  woods,  crying  to  God  for  mercy ;  and  others 
praising  God  for  the  deliverance  of  their  souls.  At  this 
time  there  came  up  the  river  a  look-out  boat ;  the  crow 
landed  and  came  to  the  meeting ;  one  of  them  stood  by 
a  woman  that  lay  on  the  ground  crying  to  God  for 

mercy,  and  said  to  her,  ‘Why  do  you  not  cry  louder?’ 

8 


126  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

She  immediately  began  to  pray  for  him,  and  the  power 
of  the  Lord  struck  him  to  the  ground,  and  he  lay  and 
cried  for  mercy  louder  than  the  woman.  This  meeting 
continued  from  eleven  o’clock  till  night.” 

At  another  appointment  he  attended,  so  great  was  the 
display  of  divine  power  among  the  people  that  many 
fell  to  the  floor.  Sinners  sprang  to  the  doors  and  win¬ 
dows  and  fell  over  one  another  in  getting  out ;  five 
jumped  out  at  a  window',  and  the  cries  of  the  slain  were 
very  great.  One  woman  went  close  by  Abbott  and 
cried,  “You  are  a  devil!”  A  young  man  cried  out, 
“  Command  the  peace  !”  hut  a  magistrate  who  was  pre¬ 
sent,  answered,  “It  is  the  power  of  God.”  Another, 
with  tears  in  his  eyes,  entreated  the  people  to  hold  their 
peace ;  to  which  an  old  woman  replied,  “  They  cannot 
hold  their  peace,  unless  you  cut  their  tongues.”  “  Glory 
to  God!”  says  Abbott,  “this  day  will  never  be  forgotten 
either  in  time  or  eternity.  I  was  as  happy  as  I  could 
contain.”  He  preached  at  a  Mr.  Smith’s  on  Tuckahoe 
river  and  one  fell  to  the  floor.  He  then  asked  the  peo¬ 
ple  what  they  thought  of  such  manifestations,  and 
whether  they  did  not  think  they  were  of  the  devil.  “If 
it  is  of  the  devil,”  he  said,  “when  she  comes  to  she  will 
curse  and  swear,  but  if  it  is  of  God,  she  will  praise  him.” 
The  people  looked  on  in  amazement  while  she  lay  strug¬ 
gling  on  the  floor.  At  length  she  came  to,  praising  the 


DARK  DAYS.  127 

Lord  with  a  loud  voice,  and  declaring  that  God  had 
sanctified  her  soul.  Abbott  then  met  the  society  and 
impressed  sanctification  upon  them.  A  woman  who  had 
been  fifteen  years  a  professor  of  justification  fell  to  the 
floor,  and  after  some  time  arose  and  declared  that  the 
Lord  had  sanctified  her  soul.  Abbott  exhorted  those 
around  her  to  claim  the  promise,  and  while  she  was  yet 
speaking  six  or  seven  were  prostrated  upon  the  floor. 

He  threw  open  the  doors  and  windows  and  called  the 
wicked  to  come  and  witness  for  themselves  the  displays 
of  divine  power,  telling  them  that  if  they  would  not  be¬ 
lieve  when  such  manifestations  were  given,  they  would 
not  believe  if  God  Almighty  were  to  speak  to  them,  as 
he  did  to  Moses,  in  a  flame  of  fire.  Before  the  meeting 
closed,  six  or  seven  professed  to  obtain  sanctification. 

The  next  morning  he  went  to  another  place  “and 
preached  with  great  liberty.”  The  meeting  commenced 
at  eleven  o’clock  and  lasted  until  midnight.  Before  it 
was  over  seven  professed  to  find  peace,  and  joined  the 
society.  “  Here  I  was  as  happy  in  my  own  soul,”  he 
says,  “as  I  could  wish  either  to  live  or  die.”  On  the 
day  following,  “  I  preached,”  he  says,  “at  brother  Hew’s 
to  a  precious,  loving  people ;  and  as  soon  as  I  had 
kneeled  down,  before  I  had  uttered  one  sentence,  they 
all  cried  out,  Amen.  After  preaching,  in  class,  I  en¬ 
deavored  to  teach  them  the  meaning  and  nature  of  the 


I 


128  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

term  Amen.”  At  one  of  his  appointments,  before 
preaching,  he  retired  in  secret.  So  mighty  was  the  Di¬ 
vine  influence  that  rested  upon  him,  he  lost  the  use  of 
his  physical  powers,  and  “cried  out”  in  such  a  manner 
that  the  people  who  had  not  seen  the  like  before  were 
alarmed.  After  recovering  a  little,  he  went  and  preached 
to  them,  and  had  a  “precious  time.” 

Do  any  say,  Abbott  was  a  fanatic  ?  We  reply,  Was 
Tennent  then  a  fanatic  ?  Was  not  he,  the  Presbyterian 
pastor  of  Freehold,  the  subject  of  exercises  not  dissimi- 
lar  to  those  which  Abbott  experienced  ?  Before  service 
one  Sabbath  morning,  Tennent  went  into  a  grove  near 
his  Church,  to  commune  with  God,  and  so  singularly  and 
powerfully  was  he  wrought  upon,  that,  finding  he  did  not 
come  to  address  the  waiting  congregation,  his  elders 
sought  him  out  and  conveyed  him  to  his  pulpit,  where 
he  preached  under  the  influence  of  this  powerful  baptism 
with  the  Holy  Ghost  sent  down  from  heaven.  Who  ever 
dreamed  of  charging  Tennent  with  fanaticism  because 
he  thus  sank  under  the  power  of  God?  And  why  should 
Abbott,  because  to  him  was  given  so  great  an  unction 
from  the  Holy  One,  be  stigmatized  with  this  charge?  A 
man  possessed  of  an  extraordinary  faith  and  a  burning 
zeal  which  prompts  him  to  abound  in  sacrifices  and  la¬ 
bors  for  God  and  humanity,  especially  if  he  be  a  Metho¬ 
dist,  is  exceedingly  liable  to  the  charge  of  fanaticism. 


DARK  DAYS. 


129 


But  it  is  not  new.  Many  centuries  ago  was  it  said  by  a 
fit  representative  of  a  class  who  are  swift  to  pass  their 
judgment  upon  God’s  heroes,  “Paul,  thou  art  beside  thy¬ 
self,  much  learning  doth  make  thee  mad.” 

In  1779  there  were  two  Conferences,  one  for  the 
Northern  and  one  for  the  Southern  section  of  the  work. 
The  Northern  Conference  was  held  at  the  house  of 
Thomas  White,  Esq.,  in  Kent  county,  Delaware.  All 
the  preachers  on  the  northern  stations  were  present  and 
united.  “We  had,”  says  Asbury,  “much  prayer,  love, 
and  harmony ;  and  we  all  agreed  to  walk  by  the  same 
rule  and  to  mind  the  same  thing.”  At  this  Conference 
New  Jersey  was  united  with  Philadelphia,  and  three 
preachers  were  appointed  to  the  laborious  field.  They 
were  Philip  Cox,  Joshua  Dudley,  and  Daniel  Ruff. 

Freeborn  Garrettson  visited  New  Jersey  this  year, 
where  he  labored  a  short  time  with  considerable  success. 
He  says,  “  I  bless  and  praise  my  dear  Lord  for  the  pros¬ 
perous  journey  he  gave  me  through  the  Jerseys;  several 
were  awakened,  and  some  brought  to  know  Jesus.  One 
day,  after  preaching,  an  old  man  came  to  me  and  said 
all  in  tears,  ‘  This  day  I  am  an  hundred  and  one  years 
old,  and  this  is  my  spiritual  birth-day.’  The  dear  man’s 
soul  was  so  exceedingly  happy,  that  he  appeared  to  be 
ready  to  take  his  flight  to  heaven. 

“  I  preached  at  a  new  place,  where  the  congregation 


130  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

consisted  mostly  of  young  people,  from,  4  The  Son  of 
man  is  come  to  seek  and  to  save  that  which  was  lost.’ 
Luke  xix.  10.  We  had  a  wonderful  display  of  the  power 
of  the  Lord.  After  I  had  finished,  the  young  people 
hung  around  each  other,  crying  for  mercy  ;  and  I  be¬ 
lieve  many  will  praise  the  Lord  eternally  for  that  day.” 

Asbury  records  in  his  journal  this  year  a  remarkable 
account  of  the  case  of  Aciisah  Borden,  who  appeared 
to  be  possessed  of  a  dumb  spirit.  “From  her  child¬ 
hood,”  he  says,  “she  was  attentive  to  reading  her  Bible, 
and  ofttimes  had  serious  thoughts  of  eternity ;  one  day, 
reading  and  meditating,  an  uncommon  light  and  comfort 
flowed  into  her  heart.  Her  soul  cried  out,  4  Sweet 
Jesus  !’  and  was  convinced  Christ  wTas  her  Saviour;  her 
friends  observing  for  a  season  that  she  was  very  serious 
feared  a  melancholy ;  which  to  prevent,  they  gathered 
their  friends  and  neighbors,  with  music  and  dancing, 
thinking  to  arouse  her  (as  they  said)  from  her  stupidity, 
or  charm  off  her  religious  frenzy.  Through  various 
temptations  she  was  prevailed  upon  to  go  into  company, 
of  course,  into  sin.  She  lost  her  comfort,  and  afterward 
fell  into  deep  distress.  She  had  heard  of  the  Method¬ 
ists,  and  was  anxious  to  go  to  them  that  they  might  pray 
for  her.  Those  with  whom  she  was,  paid  no  regard  to 
her  importunity,  but  locked  her  up  in  a  room,  and  or¬ 
dered  all  the  knives  to  be  taken  away.  She  knew  their 


DARK  DAYS. 


131 


meaning,  but  says  she  was  under  no  temptation  to  de¬ 
stroy  or  lay  violent  hands  upon  herself.  Soon  after  this 
her  speech  failed  her,  so  that  she  only  spoke  half  sen¬ 
tences,  and  would  be  stopped  by  inability ;  but  by  grasp¬ 
ing  anything  hard  in  her  hand,  she  could  speak  with  dif¬ 
ficulty  and  deliberation ;  but  soon  lost  this  power,  and  a 
dumb  spirit  took  perfect  possession  of  her;  she  said  then 
it  was  impressed  on  her  mind,  ‘The  effectual  and  fervent 
prayer  of  a  righteous  man  availeth  much.’  She  heard 
the  Methodists  were  a  people  that  prayed  much,  and 
still  retained  her  desire  to  go  amongst  them,  and  by 
signs  made  it  known  to  her  friends.  And  after  about 
one  year’s  silence,  her  mother  was  prevailed  upon  to  go 
with  her  to  New  Mills,  New  Jersey,  (about  thirteen  miles 
distant,)  where  there  was  a  society  and  meeting-house  ; 
they  knew  no  Methodists,  nor  could  get  any  one  to  tell 
them  where  to  find  any,  notwithstanding  they  were  now 
in  the  midst  of  them.  Satan  hindered  ;  inquiry  was 

made  among  the  B - ts,  who  knew  the  Methodists,  of 

whom  we  might  have  expected  better  things.  They  re¬ 
turned  home,  and  after  another  year’s  waiting  in  silence, 
by  signs  her  mother  was  persuaded  to  come  to  New  Mills 

again ;  they  fell  in  with  the  B - ts  again,  but  turning 

from  them,  with  much  difficulty,  and  some  hours’  wan¬ 
dering,  they  found  one  to  direct  them.  They  went  where 
a  number  were  met  for  prayer ;  the  brethren  saw  into 


132  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

her  case,  believing  it  was  a  dumb  spirit,  and  that  God 
would  cast  him  out.  Prayer  was  made  part  of  three 
days;  the  third  day  at  evening  she  cried  for  mercy, 
soon  spoke  and  praised  God  from  a  sense  of  comforting, 
pardoning  love.  During  the  two  years  of  her  silence, 
she  would  not  work  at  all,  nor  do  the  smallest  thing.” 

Garrettson,  in  his  journal,  gives  an  account  of  this 
case,  though  he  does  not  give  her  name ;  but  there  can 
be  no  doubt  of  its  being  the  same  person,  notwithstanding 
there  is  a  slight  difference  in  some  points  between  the  two 
statements;  yet  substantially  they  agree.  Mr.  Garrett¬ 
son  says  she  was  a  young  woman,  brought  up  a  Quaker, 
and  that  Mr.  Ruff,  one  of  the  preachers,  was  present 
when  she  presented  herself  to  the  society.  He  says, 
“  Sometime  after,  I  came  into  this  neighborhood  and  sent 
word  to  her  mother  I  would  preach  such  a  day  at  her 
house.  When  the  day  arrived  I  took  the  young  woman 
home,  accompanied  by  many  friends,  and  we  were  re¬ 
ceived  like  angels ;  some  thought  the  Methodists  could 
work  miracles.  Many  of  the  friends  and  neighbors 
came,  and  could  not  but  observe  how  angelic  this  young 
woman  appeared  to  be ;  who  was  now  able  to  speak  and 
work  as  well  as  usual.  I  bless  the  Lord  who  gave  me 
great  freedom  in  preaching  on  this  remarkable  occasion. 
The  people  seemed  to  believe  every  word  which  was  de¬ 
livered,  and  a  precious,  sweet  season  it  was.  The  old 


DARK  DATS. 


133 


lady  was  ready  to  take  us  in  her  arms,  being  so  happy, 
and  so  well  satisfied  with  respect  to  her  daughter.” 

At  the  end  of  this  year  there  were  one  hundred  and 
forty  members  in  New  Jersey,  which  was  a  decrease  in 
the  two  years  last  past  of  twenty.  Yet  from  the  slight 
information  we  obtain  concerning  its  progress,  we  infer 
that  the  cause  assumed  a  more  encouraging  and  favora¬ 
ble  appearance  during  the  year.  On  the  7th  of  October, 
Bishop  Asbury,  in  his  journal,  says,  “I  received  a  letter 
from  brother  Ruff ;  he  says  the  work  deepens  in  the  Jer¬ 
seys.”  Again  on  the  24th  of  April,  1780,  he  says, 
“Received  three  epistles  from  the  Jerseys,  soliciting 
three  or  four  preachers,  with  good  tidipgs  of  the  work 
of  God  reviving  in  those  parts.  The  petitioners  I  shall 
hear  with  respect.” 

Those  few  words  tell  of  prosperity,  and  they  are  about 
all  we  are  able  to  learn  in  regard  to  the  general  condi¬ 
tion  of  the  work  this  year,  with  the  exception  of  what  is 
indicated  by  the  report  of  members  given  at  the  Confer¬ 
ence.  It  is  evident  that  though  there  was  strong  oppo¬ 
sition  against  them,  and  their  discouragements  were 
great,  the  zeal  of  these  earnest  Christian  ministers  and 
Methodist  heroes  did  not  flag,  but  in  the  face  of  obsta¬ 
cles  sufficient  to  cause  the  stoutest  heart  to  shrink,  un¬ 
less  it  were  nerved  by  an  apostle’s  faith,  they  bravely 


134  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

prosecuted  their  labors,  praying  for  and  expecting  suc¬ 
cess. 

Philip  Cox  was  a  native  of  Froome,  Somersetshire, 
England.  He  must  have  been  converted  about  the  year 
1774,  as  Philip  Gatch  speaks  of  preaching  at  a  certain 
place  when  he  traveled  Kent  circuit,  that  year,  and  says, 
“  At  this  place  Philip  Cox,  who  afterward  became  a 
useful  preacher,  was  caught  in  the  gospel  net.”  He 
must  have  entered  the  itinerant  connection  in  the  year 
1778,  as  at  the  Conference  of  1779  he  was  among  the 
number  that  were  continued  on  trial.  In  1780  he  was 
sent  to  Fairfax,  Ya.,  and  in  1781  to  Little  York.  His 
subsequent  appointments,  so  far  as  known,  were  as  fol¬ 
lows : — In  1782  and  1783  Frederic  and  Annamessex 
Md. ;  1784,  Long  Island;  1785,  Northampton,  Md. ; 
1786-7-8,  Brunswick,  Sussex,  and  Mecklenberg,  in  Ya. 

On  this  last  circuit  he  had  for  his  colleague  the  Rev. 
Wm.  M’Kendree,  Avho  was  in  his  first  year  in  the  ministry. 
In  1789  he  received  the  appointment  of  Book  Steward 
and  was  reappointed  to  the  office  in  1790.  We  are  not 
able  to  ascertain  his  appointments  for  the  last  three  years 
of  his  life.  While  Mr.  Cox  traveled  as  book  steward, 
Enoch  George,  who  subsequently  became  bishop,  com¬ 
menced  traveling  with  him.  Cox  treated  his  young 
companion  with  paternal  kindness,  for  which  the  latter 
cherished,  it  is  said,  a  sense  of  lifelong  obligation. 


DARK  DAYS. 


135 


Shortly  after  he  commenced  preaching,  while  traveling 
with  Mr.  Cox,  they  met  Bishop  Asbury.  Cox  said  to 
the  bishop,  “I  have  brought  you  a  boy,  and  if  you  have 
anything  for  him  to  do  you  may  set  him  to  work.”  As¬ 
bury  looked  at  him  for  some  time,  and  at  length  called 
him  to  him,  and  laying  his  head  upon  his  knee,  and 
stroking  his  face  with  his  hand,  said,  u  Why  he  is  a 
beardless  boy  and  can  do  nothing.”  George  then  thought 
his  traveling  wTas  at  an  end,  but  the  next  day  the  bishop 
accepted  his  services  and  appointed  him  to  a  circuit.* 

Mr.  Cox  was  a  man  of  very  small  stature.  At  one 
time  he  felt  badly  and  concluded  to  retire  from  the  field. 
But  on  being  Aveighed  he  found  his  weight  amounted  to 
an  hundred  pounds.  He  then  remarked,  “  It  shall 
never  be  said  I  quit  traveling  while  I  Aveigh  an  hundred 
weight.”f 

He  Avas  eminently  successful  as  a  minister  of  Jesus 
Christ.  When  he  traveled  Sussex  circuit  in  Virginia,  in 
1787,  the  people  Avere  converted  in  multitudes.  IIa\Ting 
hurt  a  limb  he  had  resolved  to  take  a  day’s  rest,  but  be¬ 
ing  sent  for  to  attend  the  funeral  of  a  little  child,  he 
Avent  and  spoke  to  a  congregation  of  a  hundred  persons 
from  the  Avords,  “  Except  ye  be  converted  and  become 
as  little  children,  ye  cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
heaven.”  Although  he  was  compelled  to  preach  sitting 

*  Heroes  of  Methodism.  f  Lee’s  Hist,  of  Methodists. 


136  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

upon  a  table,  and  fifty  of  his  auditors  were  old  professors, 
thirty  of  the  other  fifty  professed  to  find  peace  before 
the  close  of  the  meeting.  The  next  day  he  sat  in  a 
chair  on  a  table  in  the  woods  and  preached,  when  “above 
sixty  souls  were  set  at  liberty.”  At  another  time,  at  a 
Quarterly  meeting  held  in  Sussex  circuit,  he  says ;  “  Be¬ 
fore  the  preachers  got  there  the  work  broke  out,  so  that 
when  we  came  to  the  chapel,  above  sixty  were  down  on 
the  floor,  groaning  in  loud  cries  to  God  for  mercy.  Bro¬ 
ther  O’Kelly  tried  to  preach,  but  could  not  be  heard 
for  the  cries  of  the  distressed.  It  is  thought  our  audi¬ 
ence  consisted  of  no  less  than  five  thousand  the  first 
day,  and  the  second  day  of  twice  that  number.  We 
preached  to  them  in  the  open  air,  and  in  the  Chapel, 
and  in  the  barn  by  brother  Jones’  house,  at  the  same 
time.  Such  a  sight  my  eyes  never  saw  before,  and  never 
read  of,  either  in  Mr.  Wesley’s  Journals,  or  any  other 
writings,  concerning  the  Lord’s  pouring  out  the  Spirit, 
except  the  account  in  Scripture  of  the  day  of  Pentecost. 
Never,  I  believe,  was  the  like  seen  since  the  apostolic  age: 
hundreds  were  at  once  down  on  the  ground  in  bitter  cries 
to  God  for  mercy.  Here  were  many  of  the  first  quality 
in  the  country  wallowing  in  the  dust  with  their  silks  and 
broadcloths,  powdered  heads,  rings,  and  ruffles,  and  some 
of  them  so  convulsed  that  they  could  neither  speak  nor 
stir ;  many  stood  by,  persecuting,  till  the  power  of  the 


DARK  DAYS. 


137 


Lord  laid  hold  of  them,  and  then  they  fell  themselves, 
and  cried  as  loud  as  those  they  had  just  before  perse¬ 
cuted.  We  are  not  able  to  give  a  just  account  how 
many  were  converted,  and  as  we  had  rather  be  under 
than  over  the  just  number,  we  believe  that  near  two  hun¬ 
dred  whites  and  more  than  half  as  many  blacks  professed 
to  find  Him  of  whom  Moses  and  the  prophets  did  write.” 

It  was  believed  that  nearly  two  hundred  whites  and 
more  than  half  as  many  blacks  professed  to  receive  for¬ 
giveness  of  sins  at  this  meeting.*  In  his  Journal,  Jan¬ 
uary  8th,  1788,  Bishop  Asbury  says,  “Brother  Cox 
thinks  that  not  less  than  fourteen  hundred,  white  and 
black,  have  been  converted  in  Sussex  circuit  the  past 
year.”  Rev.  Philip  Bruce,  in  a  letter  published  in  the 
Arminian  Magazine  (American),  dated  nearly  three 
months  later,  says :  “  Brother  Cox  informs  me,  that  be¬ 
tween  twelve  and  fifteen  hundred  whites  have  been  con¬ 
verted  in  his  circuit,  besides  a  great  number  of  blacks.” 

The  last  services  of  Mr.  Cox  were  great,  it  is  said,  in 
circulating  books  of  religious  instruction. 

The  methodist  preachers  of  that  day  were  not  content 
merely  to  preach  the  truth,  but  encouraged  the  people  to 
read  religious  books,  regarding  the  latter  as  a  most  im¬ 
portant  auxiliary  to  the  former.  Instead  of  being  op¬ 
posed  to  the  spread  of  knowledge  among  the  people,  the 

*  Arminian  Magazine,  vol.  ii.  pp.  92-3. 


138  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

preachers  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  have  done 
more,  probably,  than  any  other  single  body  of  men,  to 
promote  the  cause  of  literature  and  learning,  by  their 
example  and  their  direct  personal  labors.  By  placing 
good  books  in  the  hands  of  the  people,  they  were  instru¬ 
mental  in  settling  and  fortifying  the  faith  of  those  who 
were  converted  by  their  preaching,  and  of  saving  many 
more,  perhaps,  who  would  not  have  been  reached  by  their 
public  ministry. 

Mr.  Cox  was  delirious  in  his  last  illness,  but  on  Sun¬ 
day,  a  week  preceding  his  death,  he  said,  “  that  it  was 
such  a  day  of  peace  and  comfort  to  his  soul  as  he  had 
seldom  seen.”  He  died  in  peace  on  the  Sunday  follow¬ 
ing,  the  8th  of  September,  1793.  He  was  a  man  of 
great  spirit,  quick  apprehension,  and  sound  judgment. 

He  who  was  instrumental  in  turning  so  “  many  to 
righteousness”  must  have  a  brilliant  coronet  of  stars  in 
the  day  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 

Joshua  Dudley  must  have  traveled  in  1778,  as  at 
the  Conference  of  1779,  at  which  he  was  appointed  to 
the  Philadelphia  and  New  Jersey  circuit,  he  was  contin¬ 
ued  on  trial,  though  his  name  does  not  previously  appear 
in  the  minutes.  In  1780  he  was  sent  to  Baltimore ;  in 
1781  to  Amelia ;  in  1782  to  West  Jersey ;  in  1783  his 
name  is  not  in  the  minutes.  At  this  period,  the  ques¬ 
tion,  “Who  have  located  this  year?”  was  not  asked  in 


DARK  DAYS. 


139 


the  minutes,  and  consequently  when  preachers,  on  ac¬ 
count  of  ill  health  or  for  any  other  reason,  desisted  from 
traveling,  there  is  no  mention  made  of  the  fact. 

Mr.  Dudley  could  not  have  remained  very  long  upon 
the  circuit  this  year,  as  in  September  he  was  employed 
in  Delaware.  On  the  ninth  of  that  month,  Asbury 
writes,  “  I  wms  unwell  and  was  relieved  by  Joshua  Dud¬ 
ley  who  took  the  circuit.”  Nine  days  afterward  he 
writes,  “  Brother  Dudley  being  detained  by  his  father 
being  sick,  brother  Cooper  is  come  in  his  place.” 

He  received  still  another  appointment  before  the  close 
of  the  Conference  year,  as  on  the  fourth  of  March  1780, 
Asbury  records  in  his  Journal  that  he  had  appointed 
Joshua  Dudley  for  Dorset.  He  evidently  occupied  an 
honorable  position  as  a  preacher,  but  our  information 
concerning  him  is  excedingly  meagre.  When  he  trav¬ 
eled  in  New  Jersey,  Benjamin  Abbott  heard  him  preach, 
and  he  has  left  the  very  brief  tribute  to  Jus  effectiveness 
as  a  preacher,  which  is  as  follows  :  “  The  next  appoint- 
was  made  at  J.  D’s.,  for  brother  Dudley;  he  came  and 
preached  with  power.”* 

Thus  have  we  passed  the  first  decade  in  the  history  of 
New  Jersey  Methodism.  We  have  witnessed  its  rise,  its 
reverses,  and  at  the  same  time  some  of  its  noblest  tri- 


*  Life  of  Abbott,  p.  81. 


140  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

umphs  in  rescuing  souls  from  the  dark  depths  of  guilt, 
who  otherwise,  perhaps,  would  never  have  been  reached 
by  redemptive  agencies.  With  this  decade  passed  its 
severest  and  darkest  days,  and  though  the  progress  of 
the  movement  appears  inconsiderable,  yet  during  this 
time  the  foundations  were  slowly  hut  securely  laid  on 
which  has  since  been  reared  that  beautiful  and  majestic 
temple  which  is  now  the  spiritual  refuge  of  forty  thou¬ 
sand  souls. 

The  sufferings  and  labors  of  the  preachers  during  this 
decade  were  great.  They  literally  had  no  certain  dwell¬ 
ing  place  hut  went  to  and  fro,  everywhere  encountering 
hardship  and  obloquy,  in  order  that  they  might  save  re¬ 
deemed  but  perishing  men.  The  societies  were  few,  and 
feeble  both  in  numbers  and  means,  and  were  nearly  all 
without  churches.  This  last  fact  alone  was  a  formidable 
obstacle  to  the  advancement  of  the  cause.  One  of  the 
arguments  employed  by  the  opponents  of  the  movement 
was  that  as  the  Methodists  were  without  houses  of  wor¬ 
ship  and  were  not  able  to  build,  they  would  soon  dwindle 
away,  and  by  this  means  much  of  the  fruit  of  Methodist 
toil  and  sacrifice  was  appropriated  by  other  sects.  Still, 
many  in  the  face  of  poverty  and  reproach  adhered  to 
the  Church  which  had  travailed  in  birth  for  them.  One 
whose  devotion  was  unswerving,  in  reply  to  the  predic¬ 
tion  that  the  Methodists  would  soon  become  extinct,  said, 


DARK  DATS. 


141 


“  Well,  if  they  do  come  to  nothing,  as  long  as  I  live 
there  will  be  one  left.”  Both  the  preachers  and  people 
were  looked  upon  as  fanatics,  as  deceivers  of  the  people, 
and  tories ;  yet  in  the  midst  of  all  God  was  with  them, 
and  through  him  they  originated  influences  which  are 
still  potent  with  Omnipotent  energy,  and  which  will  con¬ 
tinue  to  bless  and  elevate  humanity  until  the  final  vic¬ 
tories  of  the  militant  Church  shall  be  celebrated  in  the 
endless  hallelujahs  of  the  heavens. 


142  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

METHODISM  IN  NEW  MILLS. 

In  the  year  1826,  the  name  of  this  village  was 
changed  from  that  of  New  Mills  to  Pemberton,  but  as 
during  the  period  embraced  in  this  volume  it  was  New 
Mills,  we  shall  use  that  name  only. 

There  has  long  been  a  tradition  that  the  first  Method¬ 
ist  society  in  New  Jersey  was  formed  in  that  village,  but 
fidelity  to  the  facts  of  history  requires  us  to  say  that 
this  tradition  is  without  foundation.  It  is  justly  claimed 
by  the  tradition  that  the  society  was  formed  there  in  the 
year  1772,  Methodism  having  been  introduced  during 
that  year  by  Mr.  Asbury.  His  first  recorded  visit  there 
was  in  the  early  part  of  that  year.  In  his  Journal  he 
says  it  was  on  the  thirtieth  and  thirty-first  days  of  Feb¬ 
ruary,  overlooking  the  fact,  doubtless,  that  February  has 
never  thirty  days.  This  of  course  was  merely  a  slip  of 
the  pen. 

We  have  already  shown  that  both  the  Burlington  and 


METHODISM  IN  NEW  MILLS. 


143 


Trenton  societies  were  formed  previously  to  the  year 
1772,  the  former  having  been  formed  on  the  14th  of  De¬ 
cember,  1770,  and  the  latter  in  1771.  New  Mills  must 
therefore  rank,  at  most,  as  the  third  society  in  point  of 
time  in  New  Jersey. 

Ex-Gov.  Fort  of  New  Jersey,  in  a  private  note  says, 
“  The  tradition  was  that  the  M.  E.  Church  there  was  the 
first  in  the  State  and  the  third  in  the  United  States,  in 
point  of  time.  John  Street,  N.  Y.,  being  first;  a  Church 
in  Maryland  (Strawbridge’s),  second;  and  New  Mills, 
third.”  This  agrees  with  an  article  published  by  Gov. 
Fort  in  the  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal  of  February 
14,  1834,  in  which  he  claims  that  the  Church  at  New 
Mills  was  “the  first  Methodist  meeting-house  erected  in 
the  State.”  I  am  exceedingly  sorry  to  dispel  this  pleas¬ 
ing  illusion,  which  has  been  fondly  cherished  in  many  a 
devout  heart,  and  transmitted  from  parent  to  child  for 
perhaps  three-fourths  of  a  century,  and  I  would  not  do 
it,  did  not  candor  require  that  I  should  present  the  facts 
of  history  as  they  are. 

Asbury  speaks  of  seeing  the  foundation  of  a  Church 
laid  in  New  Jersey  in  April,  1773.  This  could  not  have 
been  the  Church  at  New  Mills,  because  its  dimensions 
were  not  the  same  as  those  of  the  New  Mills  Church,  and 
it  is  not  claimed  that  that  Church  was  built  before  the 
year  1774.  Asbury  gives  explicitly  the  dimensions  of 


144  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY.  • 

both  these  Churches.  The  former  was  35  by  30  feet, 
and  the  latter  (New  Mills)  was  36  by  28  feet.  On  Sat¬ 
urday  and  Sunday  the  fourth  and  fifth  of  May,  1776, 
Asbury  was  at  New  Mills,  and  says  he  “  found  brother 
W.  very  busy  about  his  Chapel.”  The  Church  was  then 
built,  as  he  preached  in  it  at  that  time,  but  from  this  re¬ 
mark  it  would  appear  that  it  was  not  yet  finished.  The 
deed  of  purchase,  says  Gov.  Fort,  is  dated  the  31st  of 
December,  1774,  the  very  last  day  of  that  year.  The 
evidence  arising  from  a  comparison  of  these  dates,  and 
the  dimensions  of  the  Churches,  appears  conclusive  in  fa¬ 
vor  of  the  priority  of  the  former.  Evidence  adduced 
in  a  foot  note  on  page  53  appears  to  fix  the  location 
of  that  Church  at  Trenton. 

There  is  considerable  ground  for  the  opinion  that 
there  was  a  Church  built  in  New  Jersey  at  a  period  still 
earlier  than  this.  Methodism  was  introduced  at  an 
early  period  into  the  township  of  Greenwich,  Gloucester 
county,  and  on  the  14th  of  May,  1772,  Asbury,  being 
in  that  locality,  says,  “  Went  to  the  new  Church. 
Surely  the  power  of  God  is  amongst  this  people.  Af¬ 
ter  preaching  with  great  assistance  I  lodged  at  Isaac 
Jenkins’s,  and  in  the  morning  he  conducted  me  to 
Gloucester ;  and  thence  we  went  by  water  to  Philadel¬ 
phia.”* 


*  See  Asbury’s  Journal,  vol.  i.  p.  30. 


METHODISM  IN  NEW  MILLS. 


145 


That  this  was  a  Methodist  Church  is  probable  from  the 
fact  that  he  speaks  of  it  in  connection  with  the  power 
of  God  being  amongst  the  people,  and  with  preaching 
there  with  great  assistance.  None  will  question,  I  sup¬ 
pose,  that  the  people  who  were  thus  distinguished  for 
their  spirituality  were  Methodists,  and  if  not,  I  know 
not  how  it  can  be  questioned  that  this  “new  Church” 
was  built  by  that  people.  Had  it  been  any  other  than 
a  Methodist  Church  it  does  not  seem  probable  that  As- 
bury  would  have  mentioned  it  in  the  connection  he  does 
in  his  Journal,  or  if  he  did,  it  would  seem  probable  that 
he  would  have  said  something  to  indicate  that  it  was  not 
a  Methodist  Church.  The  evidence  thus  presented  sup¬ 
ports,  we  think,  the  following  positions,  viz: 

1.  That  the  first  Methodist  meeting-house,  or  Church, 
in  New  Jersey  was  built  in  the  township  of  Greenwich, 
Gloucester  county. 

2.  That  the  second  Church  in  the  state  was  built  in 
Trenton  in  the  year  17T3. 

3.  That  the  third  Methodist  Church  in  New  Jersey 
was  built  in  New  Mills  in  1775.  Gov.  Fort  says  it  was 
built  in  1774,  but  as  he  also  says  tliJdeed  of  purchase 
bears  date  of  Dec.  31,  1774,  and  as  Asbury  speaks  of 
finding  it  in  an  unfinished  condition  in  1776,  we  are  in¬ 
clined  to  the  opinion  that  1775  was  most  probably  the 
year  in  which  it  was  built.  Still,  allowing  it  to  have 


146  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

been  built  in  1774,  it  must  yet  rank  as  the  third  Church 
erected  by  Methodists  in  the  province. 

Although  New  Mills  cannot  claim  the  priority  which 
tradition  has  assigned  it,  it  can  claim  the  more  import¬ 
ant  and  enviable  honor  of  having  been  for  years  a 
strong-hold  of  Methodism  in  New  Jersey.  Some  of  the 
mightiest  battles  which  distinguished  the  early  history 
of  American  Methodism  were  fought  there,  and  some  of 
its  sublimest  victories  were  won.  Most  of  the  preachers 
of  note,  during  the  first  years  of  its  history,  preached  in 
this  Church;  among  whom  were  Asbury,  Captain  Webb 
Thomas  Rankin,  Strawbridge,  Gill,  Garrettson,  Abbott 
and  others. 

The  original  trustees  of  the  Church  were  John  Budd, 
Eli  Budd,  Andrew  Heisler,  Samuel  Budd,  Peter  Shiras, 
Jonathan  Budd,  Daniel  Heisler,  Joseph  Toy,  and  Lam¬ 
bert  Willmore.  u  They  were  only  to  permit  the  Rev. 
John  Wesley,  or  the  ministers  delegated  by  him,  to 
preach  in  it.  After  his  death  the  like  privilege  was  ex¬ 
tended  to  the  Rev.  Charles  Wesley,  and  after  the  death 
of  the  latter,  to  the  1  yearly  Conference  of  London  and 
North  America.”*51' 

When  Asbury  preached  his  first  sermon  there,  one  of 
the  above  mentioned  trustees  heard  it,  and  “  remarked 
that  he  was  a  great  preacher,  but  was  afraid  he  might 

*  Ex  Gov.  Fort’s  article  iu  Ch.  Advocate  aud  Jn’l.,  Feb.  14, 1834. 


METHODISM  IN  NEW  MILLS, 


147 


be  one  of  the  false  prophets.  Such  was  the  prejudice 
against  Methodism  at  that  time.  Nevertheless  numbers 
flocked  to  hear  him  ;  some  from  curiosity,  some  with  evil, 
others  with  good  intent,  and  many,  through  his  instru¬ 
mentality  and  of  those  who  followed  him,  became  sub¬ 
jects  of  converting  grace  ;  among  the  rest,  the  trustee 
and  his  associates.”* 

Daniel  Heisler,  one  of  the  first  trustees,  came  from 
Holland  and  settled  on  a  farm  near  New  Mills.  He  was 
the  great  grandfather  of  Hon.  George  F.  Fort,  and  of 
Rev.  J.  P.  Fort  of  the  Newark,  and  of  Revs.  John  Fort 
and  John  S.  Heisler  of  the  New  Jersey  Conference. 
The  first  represented  Methodism  for  three  years  in 
the  Executive  chair  of  the  State,  while  the  last  named 
are  worthy  and  useful  ministers  in  the  Church. 

Captain  Webb  was  so  imprudent  when  in  this  country 
in  speaking  against  the  opposition  of  the  colonies  to 
Great  Britain,  that  he  was  compelled,  it  is  said,  to  con¬ 
ceal  himself  for  some  months  in  the  premises  of  a  re¬ 
puted  tory  near  New  Mills,  before  he  could  make  his  es¬ 
cape  to  England.^ 

The  fame  of  Abbott  reached  New  Mills  at  an  early 
period  in  his  ministry,  and  they  sent  for  him  to  visit 
them.  He  accordingly  went,  though  he  was  but  a  local 

*  Ex  Gov.  Fort’s  article  in  Cb.  Advocate  and  Jn’l.,  Feb.  14,  1834. 
f  Raybold’s  Reminiscences  of  Methodism  in  West  Jersey,  p.  197. 


148  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


preacher,  laboring  without  pecuniary  reward,  and  the 
distance  from  his  home  in  Salem  county  was  about  sixty 
miles.  The  first  time  he  preached  there,  “  God  worked 
powerfully,”  he  says.  There  was  considerable  weeping 
and  one  fell  to  the  floor.  This  alarmed  the  people,  as 
they  had  never  seen  such  demonstrations  before.  “  Next 
day,”  he  says,  “I  preached,  and  the  Lord  poured  out 
his  spirit  among  us,  so  that  there  was  weeping  in  abun¬ 
dance,  and  one  fell  to  the  floor :  many  prayers  being 
made  for  him,  he  found  peace  before  he  arose.  He  is  a 
living  witness  to  this  day.  [Probably  a  number  of  years 
afterward.]  I  saw  him  not  long  since,  and  we  had  a 
precious  time  together.” 

He  attended  at  another  time  a  Quarterly  meeting  in 
New  Mills.  He  says:  “After  our  meeting  had  been 
opened  and  several  exhortations  given,  brother  C.  Cotts 
went  to  prayer,  and  several  fell  to  the  floor,  and  many 
wmre  affected,  and  we  had  a  powerful  time.  After  meet¬ 
ing,  brother  J.  S.  and  several  others  went  with  me  to  I. 
B.’s,  where  we  tarried  all  night.  Here  we  found  a  wo¬ 
man  in  distress  of  soul ;  after  prayer,  we  retired  to  bed. 
In  the  morning  brother  S.  went  to  prayer,  and  after  him, 
myself.  The  distressed  woman  lay  as  in  the  agonies  of 
death  near  one  hour ;  when  she  arose,  she  went  into 
her  room  to  prayer,  and  soon  after  returned  and  pro¬ 
fessed  faith  in  Christ.  She  and  her  husband  went  with 


METHODISM  IN  NEW  MILLS. 


149 


us  to  brother  H.’s,  where  about  forty  persons  had  assem¬ 
bled  to  wait  for  us  in  order  to  have  prayer  before  we 
parted.  As  soon  as  I  entered  the  house,  a  woman  en¬ 
treated  me  to  pray  for  her,  and  added,  ‘  I  am  going  to 
hell,  I  have  no  God.’  I  exhorted  her  and  all  present, 
setting  before  them  the  curses  of  God’s  law  against  sin ; 
and  likewise  I  applied  the  promises  of  the  gospel  to  the 
penitent ;  then  a  young  woman  came  to  me  and  said, 
‘Father  Abbott,  pray  to  God  to  give  me  a  clean  heart.’ 
I  replied,  ‘  God  shall  give  you  one  this  moment.’  How 
I  came  to  use  the  word  shall,  I  know  not,  but  she 
dropped  at  that  instant  into  my  arms  as  one  dead.  I 
then  claimed  the  promises  and  cried  to  God,  exhorting 
them  all  to  look  to  God  for  clean  hearts,  and  he  would 
do  great  things  for  them,  at  wThich  about  twenty  more 
fell  to  the  floor.  When  the  young  woman  came  to,  she 
declared  that  God  had  sanctified  her  soul.  I  saw  her 
many  years  after,  and  her  life  and  conversation  adorned 
the  Gospel.  Prayer  was  kept  up  without  intermission 
for  the  space  of  three  hours ;  eight  souls  professed  sanc¬ 
tification,  and  three  Indian  women  justification  in  Christ 
Jesus.” 

The  Church  at  New  Mills,  during  the  first  years  of 
its  existence  enjoyed  remarkable  prosperity.  William 
Watters  returned  to  New  Jersey  in  the  spring  of  1782 
to  visit  his  friends  there,  and  he  says : 


150  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

“  At  the  New  Mills,  I  thought  it  very  extraordinary ; 
seven  years  before  I  left  a  large  society,  and  now  found 
all  alive,  and  but  one  of  them  had  in  that  time  left  the 
society,  while  they  had  become  double  or  treble  the  num¬ 
ber  !”  *  This  testimony  speaks  much  for  the  stability 
and  devotion  of  its  early  members. 

Jacob  Heisler  was  one  of  the  first  members  of  the 
Church  in  New  Mills.  When  he  united  with  the  society 
there  were  but  four  in  class  beside  himself.  He  was  but 
sixteen  years  of  age  when  he  experienced  religion.  He 
assisted  in  building  the  first  Church  in  New  Mills,  and 
lived  to  see  it  decay,  and  another  larger  and  better  oc¬ 
cupying  its  place,  and  its  membership  greatly  in¬ 
creased.  Having  fought  the  good  fight  for  sixty  years, 
he  made  a  glorious  and  happy  exit  to  heaven  on  the  17th 
of  August,  1834,  in  the  76th  year  of  his  age. 

“  He  was  a  sample  of  primitive  Methodism,”  says 
Gov.  Fort  in  an  obituary  sketch,  “in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties,  and  in  his  conduct  as  a  Christian  and  a  man. 
He  was  alike  punctual  in  attendance  on  public  worship, 
family  prayer,  and  reading  God’s  holy  word.  He  dis¬ 
charged  with  fidelity  and  success  the  active  duties  of  a 
trustee,  class  leader,  and  exhorter  for  a  number  of  years. 
Amid  all  his  difficulties,  trials,  and  severe  afflictions, 
which  to  use  his  own  language,  £  equaled  if  not  exceeded 


*  Life  of  Watters. 


METHODISM  IN  NEW  MILLS. 


151 


those  of  Job,’  he  never  lost  his  confidence  in  God,  nor 
did  religion  cease  to  be  his  ‘chief  concern.’  lie  passed 
through  them  all  with  almost  unexampled  patience  and 
resignation.  As  the  period  of  dissolution  approached, 
his  piety  shone  brighter,  his  love  grew  warmer,  his  zeal 
increased,  and  his  whole  soul  seemed  more  impressed 
with  the  image  of  the  living  God.  About  a  week  before 
his  death,  he  told  me  that  his  bodily  afflictions  were  so 
great  he  could  not  realize  that  fullness  of  joy  and  spirit¬ 
ual  comfort  which  be  earnestly  desired ;  but  still  all  was 
calm  and  peace  within.” 

In  a  private  letter  Gov.  Fort  remarks  concerning  him 
as  follows  : — u  Jacob  Heisler  was  a  man  of  remarkable 
piety.  I  have  often  heard  him,  when  quite  a  child, 
speak  in  class  and  love-feast.  He  obeyed  the  apostolic 
injunction,  to  ‘  pray  without  ceasing,’  nearer  than  any 
man  I  ever  knew.  He  prayed  seven  times  a  day  habit¬ 
ually 'in  family  and  private,  had  strong  emotions,  and 
enjoyed  the  blessing  of  perfect  love.  He  was  always 
ready  for  death,  walked  with  God  as  Enoch,  and  often 
made  me  think  he  would,  like  Enoch,  not  taste  death.” 


152  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

JAMES  STERLING. 

Foremost  among  the  most  honored  and  distinguished 
laymen  of  his  time  was  James  Sterling,  a  man  who  was 
identified  with  New  Jersey  Methodism  for  nearly  half  a 
century. 

He  was  born  in  Ireland  in  the  year  1742,  but  came  to 
this  country  when  very  young.  His  mother  was  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  her  godly  example 
and  admonitions  produced  religious  impressions  on  his 
mind  at  an  early  age.  As  he  grew  up,  however,  he  fell 
into  gay  and  trifling  company,  and  imbibed  the  spirit 
and  adopted  the  practices  of  the  vain  world,  thus  illus¬ 
trating  the  Scripture  declaration  that  “  evil  communica¬ 
tions  corrupt  good  manners.” 

He  was  trained  to  the  business  of  a  merchant  by  his 
uncle,  James  Hunter  of  Philadelphia,  to  whom  he  was 
much  indebted  for  his  success  in  life.  Having  reached 
the  age  in  which  it  seemed  expedient  that  he  should  cn- 


JAMES  STEELING. 


153 


ter  business  for  himself,  he  removed  to  Burlington,  New 
Jersey,  and  established  himself  as  a  merchant  under  the 
counsel  and  patronage  of  his  uncle,  depending,  however, 
upon  his  own  energy  and  industry  for  success.  lie 
withdrew  from  such  society  as  was  of  questionable  charac¬ 
ter,  and  formed  such  acquaintances  as  were  likely  to  be 
of  service  to  him. 

He  married  a  Miss  Shaw  who  was  an  Episcopalian, 
himself  being  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  but 
agreeing  to  avoid  all  contention  about  differences  of 
opinion  in  religion,  they  established  the  worship  of  God 
in  their  family,  and  maintained  the  form  of  godliness 
though  for  some  time  they  remained  without  its  power. 

About  the  year  1771  he  heard  Mr.  Asbury  preach,  and 
was  brought  under  deep  conviction  of  sin.  He  now  be¬ 
came  a  constant  hearer  of  the  Methodist  preachers,  and 
soon  joined  the  society,  and  for  a  considerable  time  he 
was  connected  with  both  the  Methodist  and  the  Presby¬ 
terian  Churches.  When  the  Revolutionary  struggle  com¬ 
menced,  he  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  under 
the  royal  authority,  “  but  when  the  government  of  England 
declared  that  the  Colonies  were  no  longer  under  his 
Majesty’s  protection,  he  very  justly  concluded  that  where 
there  was  no  protection  there  could  be  no  obligations 
to  allegiance.  He  then  took  a  decided  and  active  part 
in  the  American  cause  as  a  firm  and  zealous  whig.  He 


154  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

was  the  Captain  of  a  company,  and  went  with  his  com¬ 
pany  to  Staten  Island  and  other  places  in  the  public 
service.  He  embarked  his  reputation,  his  fortune,  and 
his  all  in  the  support  of  the  Independence  of  the  United 
States.”* 

During  the  war  his  religious  fervor  abated,  and  his 
connection  with  the  Methodist  society  ceased.  But,  not¬ 
withstanding  he  made  no  profession  of  vital  religion,  he 
preserved  his  attachment  to  the  cause  and  followers  of 
Christ. 

Having  enjoyed  prosperity  in  his  business,  he  aban¬ 
doned  “mercantile  pursuits  and  bought  a  valuable  farm 
in  Salem  county,  and  furnished  it  with  stock  and  every¬ 
thing  necessary  to  become  a  complete  and  great  farmer. 
He  moved  on  his  farm  with  flattering  anticipations,”  but 
not  being  contented  in  his  new  sphere  of  life  he  did  not 
continue  very  long  in  it ;  but  “  about  the  close  of  the  war 
he  returned  to  Burlington  and  again  went  into  the  mer¬ 
cantile  business  where  he  continued  to  reside  till  the  close 
of  his  valuable  life.” 

I 

During  his  residence  in  Salem  county  he  renewed  his 
attention  to  spiritual  concerns  and  was  made  the  par¬ 
taker  of  a  “peace  that  passeth  all  understanding.” 

*  “Obituary  Notice  of  James  Sterling,  Esq.,  of  Burlington,  New 
Jersey,  which  was  published  in  the  American  Daily  Advertiser, 
(Philadelphia,)  January  19,  1818. ” 


JAMES  STERLING. 


155 


Benjamin  Abbott,  in  his  Life,  p.  45,  says,  “  On  a  Satur¬ 
day  night  I  dreamed  that  a  man  came  to  meeting,  and 
stayed  in  class,  and  spoke  as  I  never  had  heard  any  one 
before.  Next  day  James  Sterling  came  to  meeting, 
stayed  in  class,  and  spoke  much  as  I  had  seen  in  my 
dream.  After  meeting  I  said  to  my  wife,  that  was  the 
very  man  I  had  seen  in  my  dream,  and  the  Lord  would 
add  him  to  his  Church.  Soon  after  he  was  thoroughly 
awakened  and  converted  to  God.”  Years  after  this 
event  Mr.  Abbott,  speaking  of  Mr.  Sterling,  says,  “  He 
yet  stands  fast  among  us  a  useful  and  distinguished 
member,  known  by  many  of  our  preachers  and  mem¬ 
bers.”  Having  obtained  the  knowledge  of  salvation  by 
the  remission  of  sins  he  had  to  endure  a  severe  conflict 
in  order  to  subdue  his  pride  of  spirit.  He  was  a  man  of 
position  and  of  fortune ;  but  the  Methodist  society  there 
at  that  time  was  composed  chiefly  of  persons  in  the 
humble  walks  of  life,  and  was  generally  regarded  with 
disrespect  by  the  polite  and  refined  world.  “  However, 
he  humbled  himself,  or  rather,  was  humbled  by  grace, 
and  became  and  continued  to  be  a  member  of  the  perse¬ 
cuted  and  reproached  society,  and  the  Lord  blessed  his 
soul  very  remarkably,  and  in  such  a  gracious  manner  as 
he  had  never  before  experienced,  with  pardon,  and  peace, 
and  joy  in  the  Ploly  Spirit.  He  professed  and  no  doubt 
possessed  justifying  grace  by  faith  in  his  Lord  and 


156  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

Saviour,  the  Spirit  of  grace  bearing  witness  with  his 
spirit,  that  he  was  born  of  God.  He  became  very  bold, 
zealous,  and  active  in  the  cause  of  religion  ;  and  he  fre¬ 
quently  spoke  in  public  by  way  of  exhortation,  warning 
his  fellow  creatures  to  flee  by  repentance  from  the  wrath 
to  come,  and  to  fly  by  faith  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  for 
salvation. 

He  yet  continued  to  be  a  member  for  some  time  both 
of  the  Presbyterian  and  the  Methodist  connections. 
But  about  that  time  some  objections  were  raised  by  a 
part  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  Session  to  his  continu¬ 
ing  to  be  a  member  of  both  communities  ;  that  if  he  con¬ 
tinued  in  the  Methodist  society,  and  to  speak  in  public, 
by  virtue  of  authority  or  permission  from  the  Methodists, 
they  objected  to  his  communing  with  them ;  and  also  they 
objected  to  some  tenets  which  he  held  in  opinion  with  the 
Methodists  as  true  and  Scriptural,  which  some  of  the 
Session  considered  as  contrary  to  their  Confession  of 
Faith.  The  Session,  however,  was  divided  on  these 
questions.  Some  were  for  his  continuing  among  them 
as  he  had  done ;  others  were  for  his  not  communing  with 
them  unless  he  left  the  Methodists.  He  had  been  re¬ 
commended  to  them  in  terms  of  high  approbation  in  his 
certificate  from  a  sister  Church,  and  they  had  no  charge 
of  immorality  against  him,  and  were  probably  unwilling 
to  part  with  him.  Yet  the  foundation  was  laid  in  that 


JAMES  STERLING. 


157 


dispute  for  him  to  leave  the  one  or  the  other  society  for 
the  sake  of  peace ;  he  therefore  voluntarily  made  his 
election,  or  choice,  to  withdraw  from  the  Presbyterians, 
as  he  had  resolved  to  continue  among  the  Methodists. 
Henceforward  to  the  day  of  his  death  he  was  closely  and 
firmly  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in 
fellowship  and  communion.”* 

Probably  no  layman  in  the  State  ever  did  more  to  ad¬ 
vance  the  cause  of  religion  and  Methodism  than  Mr. 
Sterling.  Not  content  with  laboring  for  the  cause  in 
the  community  where  he  lived,  he  was  accustomed  to  go 
abroad  to  aid  in  the  work  of  God.  He  was  a  “true 
yoke  fellow”  of  Abbott,  and  more  than  once  they  to¬ 
gether  shook  the  gates  of  hell.  One  day  Abbott  had 
an  appointment  at  the  house  of  a  Baptist.  When  he  ar¬ 
rived  the  man  of  the  house  declined  permitting  him  to 
preach  on  account  of  the  offence  which  had  been  given 
him  by  a  piece  on  baptism  which  one  of  the  Methodist 
preachers  had  published.  “  I  remained  perfectly  com¬ 
posed  and  easy,”  says  Abbott,  “whether  I  preached  or 
not.  Brother  Sterling,  who  had  met  me  here,  reasoned 
the  case  with  him  until  he  gave  his  consent.”  Abbott 
then  preached  and  “  the  people  wept  all  through  the 
house  and  the  man  of  the  house  trembled  like  Belshaz- 


*  Obituary  Notice  of  Janies  Sterling,  Esq,  of  Burlington,  N.  J. 
10 


158  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

Abbott  made  a  preaching  tour  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
his  ministry  produced  its  accustomed  effect.  At  one  of 
his  appointments,  “I  met,”  he  says,  “with  ipy  worthy 
friend  and  brother  in  Christ,  James  Sterling,  of  New 
Jersey,  whom  I  was  glad  to  see,  having  written  to  him 
some  days  before  and  informed  him  how  God  was  carry¬ 
ing  on  his  work.  In  two  days  after  he  had  received  the 
account  he  met  me  here.  We  had  a  crowded  house  and 
the  Lord  laid  to  his  helping  hand;  divers  fell  to  the  floor 
and  some  cried  aloud  for  mercy.”  After  the  people  be¬ 
gan  to  recover  from  the  physical  suppression  produced 
upon  them,  doubtless,  by  intense  religious  emotions,  Ab¬ 
bott  appointed  a  prayer-meeting  at  the  house  of  a  friend 
in  the  neighborhood.  He  says,  “  I  gave  out  a  hymn 
and  brother  S.  [Sterling]  went  to  prayer,  and  after  him 
myself.  I  had  spoken  but  a  few  words  before  brother  S. 
fell  to  the  floor.”  All  in  the  house  were  prostrated 
shortly  except  Abbott  and  three  other  men.  One  of 
these  was  a  Presbyterian,  who  opposed  the  work,  attrib¬ 
uting  these  marvelous  phenomena  to  Satanic  agency. 
Abbott  arose  and  began  to  exhort,  “  and  the  two  men,” 
he  says,  “  fell,  one  as  if  he  had  been  shot,  and  then  there 
was  every  soul  down  in  the  house  except  myself  and  my 
old  opponent.  He  began  immediately  to  dispute  the 
point,  telling  me  it  was  all  delusion,,  and  the  work  of 
Satan.  I  told  him  to  stand  still  and  see  the  salvation 


JAMES  SLERLING. 


159 


of  the  Lord.  As  they  came  to  they  all  praised  God, 
and  not  one  soul  hut  what  professed  either  to  have  re¬ 
ceived  justification  or  sanctification,  eight  of  whom  pro¬ 
fessed  the  latter.”  It  thus  appears  that  Mr.  Sterling 
either  enjoyed  the  blessing  of  sanctification  previously 
to  this  time  or  he  received  it  on  this  occasion.  Our  au¬ 
thorities  do  not  determine  which  was  the  case. 

At  one  time  he  was  subjected  to  the  operations  of  the 
Spirit  to  such  a  degree  that  his  physical  powers  entirely 
gave  way,  and  the  friends  being  alarmed  called  a  physi¬ 
cian  who  treated  him  for  a  physical  disorder,  applying 
blisters,  &c.  When  he  recovered  sufficiently  he  made 
known  to  them  the  cause  of  his  being  thus  affected,  as¬ 
suring  them  that  it  was  the  result  of  a  powerful  Divine 
influence  and  not  an  “  infirmity  of  the  flesh.” 

He  once  went  to  Pott’s  Furnace  where  Abbott  had  an 
appointment  and  met  him  there.  The  place  was  re¬ 
markable  for  its  wickedness,  being  in  this  respect,  as 
Abbott  affirmed,  “next  door  to  hell.”  The  furnace  men 
and  colliers  swore  they  would  shoot  Abbott,  but  un¬ 
daunted  by  their  threats  he  “  went  into  the  house  and 
preached  with  great  liberty.”  Some  of  the  colliers  were 
so  deeply  affected  under  the  word  that  their  blackened 
faces  were  streaked  with  the  tears  which  streamed  from 
their  eyes.  Mr.  Sterling  exhorted,  and  was  very  happy 
in  declaring  the  truth.  After  meeting  they  went  to  a 


160  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

Mrs.  Grace’s  at  the  forge.  “  The  old  lady  took  me  by 
the  hand,”  says  Abbott,  “and  said,  ‘  I  never  was  so  glad 
to  see  a  man  in  the  world,  for  I  was  afraid  that  some  of 
the  furnace  men  had  killed  you,  for  they  swore  bitterly 
that  they  would  shoot  you.’”  At  another  time  Mr. 
Sterling  went  into  Maryland  where  Abbott  was  making 
one  of  his  tours.  They  met  at  a  Quarterly  meeting 
which  was  held  in  a  barn.  Abbott  preached  on  Sabbath 
morning  and  many  cried  aloud  under  the  word  and  some 
fell  to  the  floor.  After  the  service  he  went  to  the  house 
of  a  friend  taking  Mr.  Sterling  with  him.  On  their  ar¬ 
rival  they  were  congratulated  by  the  gentleman  in  a 
complimentary  style,  to  which  Mr.  Sterling  replied  “  as 
became  the  Christian  and  gentleman.”  At  family  wor¬ 
ship  the  kitchen  door  was  opened  so  that  the  colored 
people,  who  assembled  there  in  numbers,  might  partici¬ 
pate  in  the  devotions  without  entering  the  parlor.  Ab¬ 
bott  announced  a  hymn  and  Mr.  Sterling  led  them  in 
prayer.  When  he  ceased  Abbott  prayed.  The  power 
of  the  Lord  was  displayed  in  a  wonderful  manner  among 
the  colored  people;  “some,”  says  Abbott,  “cried  aloud, 
and  others  fell  to  the  floor,  some  praising  God  and  some 
crying  for  mercy ;  after  we  had  concluded,  brother  S. 
went  among  them,  where  he  continued  upward  of  one 
hour,  exhorting  them  to  fly  to  Jesus,  the  ark  of  safety.” 

Mr.  Sterling  was,  as  the  above  acts  show,  an  earnest 


JAMES  STERLING. 


161 


and  indefatigable  Christian  laborer.  He  felt  a  deep  in¬ 
terest  for  the  religious  welfare  of  all  classes,  and  though 
a  man  of  wealth  and  position,  he  did  not  think  it  below 
his  dignity  to  labor  in  a  kitchen  with  the  enslaved  child¬ 
ren  of  Ham,  and  point  them  to  Him  who  is  no  respecter 
of  persons,  but  who  accepts  all  of  every  nation  that  fear 
Him  and  work  righteousness. 

He  was  particularly  devoted  to  the  spiritual  interests 
of  his  own  household.  He  kept  a  watchful  eye  over 
those  in  his  employ  as  well  as  over  those  to  whom  he 
sustained  a  more  intimate  and  endearing  relation.  A 
rule  of  his  house  was  that  all  who  were  able  should  at¬ 
tend  Church  on  the  Sabbath.  When  the  hour  of  service 
arrived  he  was  not  only  there  himself,  but  it  was  his  cus¬ 
tom  to  rise  and  look  over  the  congregation  to  see  if  all 
the  members  of  his  family,  which  included  his  clerks 
and  servants  as  well  as  his  own  children,  were  present ; 
and  if  not,  when  he  returned  home  the  absent  ones  were 
called  to  an  account,  and  if  they  could  render  a  satis¬ 
factory  excuse  it  was  well,  but  if  not  they  received  from 
their  parent  or  employer,  as  the  case  might  be,  such  a 
reproof  and  exhortation  as  they  were  not  likely  soon  to 
forget. 

Mr.  Sterling  was  a  man  of  large  benevolence,  making 
his  money  as  well  as  his  time  and  energies  subservient 
to  the  cause  of  religion.  He  contributed  much  during 


162  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

liis  life  towards  building  Methodist  houses  of  worship, 
and  his  Christian  hospitality  was  unbounded.  Twenty- 
four  Methodist  preachers,  who  were  on  their  way  to 
General  Conference,  stopped  at  a  hotel  in  Burlington  to 
spend  the  night.  He  heard  of  them  being  there,  and 
immediately  he  proceeded  to  the  place,  introduced  him¬ 
self  and  told  them  he  desired  them  to  repair  to  his  house 
and  spend  the  night.  They  inquired  if  it  would  be  conve¬ 
nient  for  him  to  entertain  so  many  at  once.  He  replied, 
Perfectly,  and  as  many  more  if  it  were  necessary.  Of 
course  the  clerical  company  exchanged  their  quarters  at 
the  hotel  for  the  more  genial  accommodations  of  his  at¬ 
tractive  Methodist  home.  On  Quarterly  meeting  occa¬ 
sions  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  a  hundred  persons 
to  dine  at  his  house,  and  he  frequently  lodged  as  many 
as  half  that  number  at  those  times. 

In  the  obituary  sketch  of  him,  which  is  attributed  to  Rev. 
Ezekiel  Cooper,  it  is  said,  “  It  is  supposed  and  believed 
that  he  has  entertained  in  his  house  and  contributed  to¬ 
wards  the  support  of  more  preachers  of  the  gospel  than 
any  other  man  in  the  State,  if  not  in  the  United  States; 
and  that  he  has  done  as  much,  if  not  more,  in  temporal 
supplies  towards  the  support  of  religion,  than  any  other 
man  in  the  circle  of  our  knowledge.  In  this  work  of 
benevolence  he  had  been  zealously,  diligently,  and  regu¬ 
larly  employed  for  about  half  a  century.  His  heart,  his 


JAMES  STERLING. 


163 


purse,  and  liis  house  were  open  to  entertain,  not  only 
his  acquaintances,  but  to  show  hospitality  to  strangers ; 
especially  to  those  who  came  in  the  name  of  the  Lord ; 
and  particularly  to  the  ministers  of  Jesus  Christ,  of  any 
denomination,  who  were  always  made  welcome  under 
his  roof,  where,  with  his  family,  they  found  a  hospitable 
home  and  a  comfortable  resting  place.  The  writer 
speaks  in  part  from  his  own  observation  and  knowledge, 
for  more  than  thirty  years. 

“  As  a  merchant  and  a  man  of  business  he  was  equaled 
by  few.  He  conducted  his  affairs  upon  a  large  and  ex¬ 
tensive  scale  with  great  diligence,  perseverance,  punctu¬ 
ality,  and  integrity  for  more  than  fifty  years.  Probably 
no  other  man  in  the  State,  and  but  few  in  the  United 
States,  ever  transacted  so  much  business  in  the  mercan¬ 
tile  line  as  he  did ;  nor  with  more  honor  and  honesty, 
and  general  satisfaction  to  those  with  whom  he  had  deal¬ 
ings.  He  was  particularly  distinguished  as  an  extraor¬ 
dinary  and  supereminent  man  of  business  for  more  than 
half  a  century. 

“  To  take  him  all  and  in  all  perhaps  his  like  we  shall 
seldom  see  again.  Not  that  we  presume  to  intimate  that 
he  had  no  faults,  or  was  without  the  infirmities  of  human 
nature  which  are  the  common  lot  of  man ;  but  he  was  un¬ 
questionably  an  extraordinary  man,  in  the  several  circles 
of  his  long,  active,  useful,  and  devoted  life.” 


164  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

He  died  firm  in  the  faith  of  Christ,  and  in  hope  of  a 
blissful  and  glorious  immortality,  on  Tuesday,  the  sixth 
of  January,  1818,  in  the  76th  year  of  his  age,  after  a 
long  and  painful  illness  “  which  he  bore  with  great  pa¬ 
tience  and  Christian  resignation.”  In  his  will  he  re¬ 
quested  that  on  his  grave  stone  should  be  inscribed  the 
following  lines : — 

“  Christ  is  to  me  as  life  on  earth, 

And  death  to  me  is  gain, 

Because  I  trust  through  him  alone 
Salvation  to  obtain.” 

Mr.  Sterling  was  the  father  of  Mrs.  Porter,  the  es¬ 
timable  wife  of  Rev.  John  S.  Porter,  D.D. ;  and  the  ex¬ 
cellent  Robert  B.  Yard  of  the  Newark  Conference  is 
his  great-grandson,  and  the  only  one  of  his  descendants 
whose  life  has  been  devoted  to  the  ministry  of  the 
Church  of  which  he  was  so  long  an  ornament. 

PIe  rests  from  his  laeors  and  his  works  do  fol¬ 


low  HIM. 


DAWNING  OF  BRIGHTER  DAYS. 


165 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

DAWNING  OF  BRIGHTER  DAYS. 

The  Conference  of  1780  met  in  Baltimore  the  24th 
of  April.  It  was  a  most  important  and  trying  session. 
The  Virginia  preachers  seemed  determined  to  administer 
the  ordinances  themselves  to  their  people,  arguing  that 
those  who  were  instrumental  in  converting  men  by  their 
ministry  had  a  right  to  give  them  the  Sacraments,  not¬ 
withstanding  they  were  without  Episcopal  Ordination. 
They  had  even  gone  so  far  as  to  appoint  a  Committee, 
who  first  ordained  themselves  and  then  proceeded  to  or¬ 
dain  their  brethren.  The  Northern  preachers  could  not 
approve  of  this  extraordinary  measure,  and  at  this  Con¬ 
ference  it  was  feared  that  the  controversy  would  result 
in  a  division  of  the  Church.  Before  the  close  of  the 
session,  however,  the  Conference  appointed  a  Committee 
consisting  of  Asbury,  Watters,  and  Garrettson,  to  attend 
the  Conference  of  the  Southern  preachers  in  Virginia, 
with  a  view  to  effect,  if  possible,  a  reconciliation.  “But 


166  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

as  nothing  less  than  their  suspending  the  administering 
the  ordinances,”  says  Watters,  “could  be  the  terms  of 
our  treaty  with  them,  I  awfully  feared  our  visit  would  be 
of  little  consequence ;  yet  I  willingly  went  down  in  the 
name  of  God,  hoping  against  hope.” 

“We  found,”  continues  Watters,  “our  brethren  as 
loving  and  as  full  of  zeal  as  ever,  and  as  fully  determined 
on  persevering  in  their  newly  adopted  mode ;  for  to  all 
their  former  arguments,  they  now  added  (what  with 
many  was  infinitely  stronger  than  all  the  arguments  in 
the  world),  that  the  Lord  approbated,  and  greatly  blessed 
his  own  ordinances,  by  them  administered  the  past  year. 
We  had  a  great  deal  of  loving  conversation  with  many 
tears ;  but  I  saw  no  bitterness,  no  shyness,  no  judging 
each  other.  We  wept,  and  prayed,  and  sobbed,  but 
neither  would  agree  to  the  other’s  terms.  In  the  mean 
time  I  was  requested  to  preach  at  twelve  o’clock.  As  I 
had  many  preachers  and  professors  to  hear  me,  I  spoke 
from  the  words  of  Moses  to  his  father-in-law,  ‘We  are 
journeying  unto  the  place  of  which  the  Lord  said,  I  will 
give  it  you ;  come  thou  with  us  and  we  will  do  thee 
good:  for  the  Lord  hath  spoken  good  concerning  Israel.’ 

“After  waiting  two  days,  and  all  hopes  failing  of  any 
accommodation  taking  place,  we  had  fixed  on  starting 
back  early  in  the  morning;  but  late  in  the  evening  it  was 
proposed  by  one  of  their  own  party  in  Conference,  (none 


DAWNING  OF  BRIGHTER  DAYS. 


107 


of  the  others  being  present,)  that  there  should  be  a  sus¬ 
pension  of  the  oi’dinances  for  the  present  year,  and  that 
our  circumstances  should  be  laid  before  Mr.  Wesley,  and 
his  advice  solicited  in  the  business;  also  that  Mr.  Asbury 
should  be  requested  to  ride  through  the  different  circuits 
and  superintend  the  work  at  large.  The  proposal  in  a 
few  minutes  took  with  all  but  a  few.  In  the  morning, 
instead  of  coming  off  in  despair  of  any  remedy,  we  were 
invited  to  take  our  seats  again  in  conference,  where  with 
great  rejoicings  and  praises  to  God,  we  on  both  sides 
heartily  agreed  to  the  above  accommodation.  I  could 
not  but  say,  It  is  of  the  Lord’s  doing  and  it  is  marvel¬ 
ous  in  our  eyes.  I  knew  of  nothing  upon  earth  that 
could  have  given  me  more  real  consolation,  and  could 
not  but  be  heartily  thankful  for  the  stand  I  had  taken, 
and  the  part  I  had  acted  during  the  whole  contest.  I 
had  by  several  leading  characters,  on  both  sides,  been 
suspected  of  leaning  to  the  opposite ;  could  all  have 
agreed  to  the  administering  the  ordinances,  I  should 
have  had  no  objections ;  but  until  that  was  the  case,  I 
could  not  view  ourselves  ripe  for  so  great  a  change.  In 

a  letter  received  from  Mr.  - ,  in  the  course  of  the 

year,  he  observed,  amongst  other  things,  nothing  shakes 

Bro.  - like  your  letters.  You  will,  I  hope,  continue 

to  write  and  spare  not.  We  now  had  every  reason  to 
believe  that  everything  would  end  well,  that  the  evils 


1G8  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

which  had  actually  attended  our  partial  division,  would 
make  us  more  cautious  how  we  should  entertain  one 
thought  of  taking  any  step  that  should  have  the  least 
tendency  to  so  great  an  evil.  It  is  an  observation  that 
I  have  seen  in  some  of  Mr.  Wesley’s  works,  None  can 
so  effectually  hurt  the  Methodists  as  the  Methodists. 
The  more  I  know  of  Methodism,  the  more  I  am  con¬ 
firmed  in  the  correctness  of  the  observation.  The  Lord 
make  and  keep  us  of  one  mind  and  heart.” 

Let  it  not  be  said  that  this  brief  account  of  the  settle¬ 
ment  of  this  dispute,  given  by  one  of  the  chief  actors 
in  the  scene,  is  irrelevant  to  our  work.  This  was  a  mat¬ 
ter  in  which  every  section  of  the  Church  was  interested. 
The  prospect  of  a  division  was  like  a  cloud  of  densest 
gloom,  which  spread  itself  over  the  whole  horizon  of  the 
Church,  and  this  amicable  adjustment  of  the  difficulty 
was  as  if  the  cloud  gathered  up  its  black  folds  and  calmly 
rolled  itself  away  without  discharging  against  the  palaces 
of  Zion  the  terrible  artillery  which  it  concealed  in  its  bo¬ 
som.  The  Church  in  New  Jersey  could  not  but  blend 
its  exultant  notes  with  the  thanksgivings  of  American 
Methodism  at  large,  for  so  happy  a  deliverance  from  the 
direful  catastrophe  which  threatened  it. 

At  this  Conference  the  connection  of  New  Jersey  with 
Philadelphia  ceased,  and  William  Gill,  John  James,  and 
Richard  Garrettson  were  appointed  to  the  State.  None 


DAWNING  OF  BRIGHTER  DAYS. 


169 


of  the  preachers  however  were  appointed  for  a  longer 
time  than  six  months,  as  at  the  end  of  that  period  all 
were  directed  to  change  their  field  of  labor.  Who  sup¬ 
plied  the  work  the  latter  half  of  the  year  we  are  not  able 
to  tell,  but  according  to  Rev.  Thomas  Ware,  George 
Mair  volunteered  this  year  to  labor  as  a  missionary  in 
the  eastern  part  of  the  State,  in  which  for  some  time  the 
Methodist  preachers  had  not  been  permitted  to  travel. 
This  was  probably  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year,  as  he 
was  appointed  by  the  Conference  this  year  to  Philadel¬ 
phia.  His  labors  were  productive  of  much  good,  and  at 
the  ensuing  Conference  two  preachers  were  appointed  to 
East  Jersey. 

The  condition  of  the  country  was  not  such  this  year 
as  to  render  the  prospects  of  religion  much  more  favor¬ 
able  than  they  had  been  during  the  war ;  the  American 
army  of  the  North  being  quartered  at  Morristown  in 
deep  privation  and  distress,  and  the  spirit  of  war  being 
rife  throughout  the  province.  The  winter  was  terribly 
severe,  so  that  “  the  earth  was  frozen  so  deeply  that  in 
many  places  the  ground  opened  in  vast  chasms,  of  several 
yards  in  length  and  a  foot  wide,  and  three  and  four  feet 
deep.”  It  was  also  difficult  to  obtain  provisions;  “the 
rivers,  creeks,  and  other  water  ways  were  frozen  almost 
to  their  bottom,  so  that  oxen,  and  sleds  loaded,  passed 
over  the  water  as  on  solid  ground.  The  birds  and  the 


170  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

wild  animals  of  the  West  Jersey  forests  died  in  vast 
numbers.”  Notwithstanding  the  unpropitiousness  of  the 
circumstances,  the  work  advanced  gloriously  this  year, 
and  a  brighter  day  than  it  had  ever  known  dawned  upon 
the  infant  Methodism  of  the  province.  At  the  close  of 
the  year  five  hundred  and  twelve  members  were  re¬ 
ported,  which  was  an  increase  of  three  hundred  and 
sixteen,  and  almost  treble  the  number  reported  the  pre¬ 
vious  year. 

The  tiding^  of  the  revival  reached  Asbury,  who,  in 
his  Journal,  says,  “I  rejoice  to  hear  that  the  work  of 
God  is  deepening  and  widening  in  the  Jerseys.”  Shortly 
after  he  was  in  the  province,  where  he  was  told  “  there 
is  daily  a  great  turning  to  God  in  new  places,  and  that 
the  work  of  sanctification  goes  on  in  our  old  societies.” 

While  in  New  Jersey  he  met  with  an  old  German  wo¬ 
man  with  whose  simplicity  he  was  much  pleased.  She 
said  she  had  “  lived  in  blindness  fifty  years,  and  was  at 
length  brought  to  God  by  the.  means  of  Methodism.” 
She  was  rejoicing,  he  says,  in  the  perfect  love  of  God ; 
her  children  were  turning  to  the  Lord,  while  she  preached, 
in  her  way,  to  all  she  met. 

While  in  New  Jersey  this  time  he  heard  Benjamin  Ab¬ 
bott.  He  says,  “  His  words  came  with  power,  the  peo¬ 
ple  fall  to  the  ground  under  him,  and  sink  into  a  passive 
state,  helpless,  stiff,  motionless.  He  is  a  man  of  uncom- 


DAWNING  OF  BRIGHTER  DAYS. 


171 


mon  zeal,  and  (although  his  language  has  somewhat  of 
incorrectness)  of  good  utterance.”  Such  is  the  opinion 
the  sagacious  and  thoughtful  Asbury  has  recorded  con¬ 
cerning  this  “wonder  of  his  generation,”  the  most  re¬ 
markable  man,  probably,  in  faith,  zeal,  and  success,  that 
American  Methodism  has  ever  produced. 

William  Gill  stands  first  among  the  preachers  ap¬ 
pointed  to  New  Jersey  this  year.  He  was  one  of  the 
greatest  men  of  the  Church  in  his  day,  and  would  have 
been  great  at  any  period  in  the  cause.  Lee  mentions 
him  in  a  very  laudatory  style  as  a  man,  a  Christian,  and 
a  minister.  Dr.  Rush  of  Philadelphia  warmly  admired 
him,  and  is  said  to  have  remarked  that  William  Gill  was 
the  greatest  divine  he  had  ever  heard.  He  was  a  native 
of  Delaware,  and  was  admitted  on  trial  by  the  Conference 
in  1777,  and  was  appointed  to  Baltimore;  in  1778  he 
was  sent  to  Pittsylvania,  in  Virginia;  in  1779,  Fairfax; 
1781,  Kent,  Delaware;  1782,  Sussex,  Virginia;  1783, 
Little  York;  1784,  Baltimore;  1785-6,  Presiding  Elder 
in  Maryland;  1787,  he  and  John  Hagerty  were  “El¬ 
ders”  over  a  district  which  included  only  two  “appoint¬ 
ments” — Philadelphia  and  Little  York.  In  1788  he 
was  appointed  to  Kent  circuit  as  preacher  in  charge,  and 
before  the  next  Conference  he  finished  his  labors  and 
went  to  his  reward.  He  was  somewhat  deficient  in 
physical  strength,  but  he  possessed  a  keen,  strong,  and 


172  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

subtle  intellect,  a  clear  judgment,  “and  by  those  whose 
powers  of  vision  were  strong  like  his,”  says  Mr.  Ware, 
“  he  was  deemed  one  of  a  thousand.  But  by  the  less 
penetrating  his  talents  could  not  be  appreciated,  as  he 
often  soared  above  them.  *  *  In  conversation,  which 

afforded  an  opportunity  for  asking  questions  and  receiv¬ 
ing  explanations  on  deep  and  interesting  subjects,  I 
have  seldom  known  his  equal.”  He  was  a  man  of 
blameless  deportment,  possessed  a  meek  spirit,  and  was 
“resigned  and  solemnly  happy  in  his  death.”  One  of 
his  cotemporaries,  who  knew  him  personally,  says,  “  His 
death  was  truly  that  of  a  righteous  man.  After  witness¬ 
ing  a  good  confession,  leaning  upon  the  bosom  of  his 
God,  he  closed  his  own  eyes,  and  sweetly  fell  asleep. 
This  was  characteristic  of  the  man.”  Though  a  man  of 
eminent  abilities,  it  appears  from  a  passing  remark  by 
Asbury,  that  in  common  with  most  Methodist  preachers 
of  his  time,  he  was  subjected  to  the  stern  discipline  of 
poverty.  Asbury  says,  “  I  feel  for  those  -who  have  had 
to  groan  out  a  wretched  life,  dependent  on  others — as 
Pedicord,  Gill,  Tunnell,*  and  others  -whose  names  I  do 
not  now  recollect ;  but  their  names  are  written  in  the 
book  of  life,  and  their  souls  are  in  the  glory  of  God.” 

Even  a  grave  stone  with  an  inscription  sufficient  to 

*  These  were  all  eminent  ministers,  and  they,  each  labored  in  New 
Jersey. 


DAWNING  OF  BRIGHTER  DAYS. 


173 


designate  his  resting  place  was  denied  him.  A  person 
who  visited  his  grave  writes  in  the  Christian  Advocate : 
“  He  died  in  Chestertown,  Kent  Co.,  Md. ;  and  when  a 
few  more  of  the  older  men  of  this  generation  pass  away 
the  probability  is  no  one  will  know  the  place  of  his  sep¬ 
ulchre,  as  I  was  unsuccessful  in  endeavoring  to  persuade 
the  Methodists  there  to  erect  at  his  grave  only  a  plain 
head  and  foot  stone;  hut  his  record  is  on  high.” 

John  James  entered  the  Conference  this  year  on  trial, 
and  the  following  year  he  was  appointed  to  Amelia,  in 
Virginia.  In  1782  the  question  is  asked  in  the  minutes, 
“  Who  desist  from  traveling  this  year  ?”  and  the  answer 
is,  “John  James.”  Mr.  Ware,  in  his  Life,  gives  an  ac¬ 
count  of  a  preacher  visiting  Cumberland  and  Cape  May 
during  the  time  that  East  Jersey  was  inaccessible  to 
Methodist  laborers,  and  the  editor  of  the  book  says  he 
learned  from  Mr.  Ware  that  the  name  of  the  preacher 
was  James.  As  no  other  preacher  of  that  name  was  ap¬ 
pointed  at  this  period  to  New  Jersey,  nor  indeed  was  in 
the  traveling  connection,  the  inference  is  that  it  was  the 
colleague  of  Gill  and  Garrettson.  Mr.  Ware’s  account 
of  his  proceedings  there  is  as  follows  :  “  His  manner  was 
to  let  his  horse  take  his  own  course,  and  on  coming  to  a 
house,  to  inform  the  family  that  he  had  come  to  warn 
them  and  the  people  of  their  neighborhood  to  prepare  to 

meet  their  God ;  and  also  to  direct  them  to  notify  their 
11 


174  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

neighbors  that  on  such  a  day  one  would,  by  Divine  per¬ 
mission,  be  there  to  deliver  a  message  from  God  to  them, 
noting  his  appointment  in  a  book  kept  for  that  purpose ; 
and  then,  if  he  found  they  were  not  offended,  to  sing 
and  pray  with  them  and  depart.  Some  families  were 
much  affected,  and  seemed  to  hold  themselves  bound  to 
do  as  he  directed.  Others  told  him  he  need  give  himself 
no  further  trouble,  for  they  would  neither  invite  their 
neighbors,  nor  open  their  doors  to  receive  him  if  he 
came. 

“This  course  soon  occasioned  an  excitement  and 
alarm  through  many  parts.  Some  seemed  to  think  him 
a  messenger  from  the  invisible  world.  Others  said,  ‘  He 
is  mad.’  Many,  however,  gave  out  the  appointments  as 
directed ;  and  when  the  time  came  he  would  he  sure  to 
be  there.  By  these  means  the  minds  of  the  people  were 
stirred  up,  and  many  were  awakened.  While  thus  la¬ 
boring  to  sow  the  seed  of  the  gospel,  he  came  one  even¬ 
ing  to  the  house  of  Captain  Sears,  and  having  a  desire 
to  put  up  for  the  night,  made  application  to  the  captain 
accordingly.  Captain  S.  was  then  in  the  yard,  sur¬ 
rounded  by  a  number  of  barking  dogs,  which  kept  up 
such  a  noise  that  he  could  not  at  first  hear  what  the 
preacher  said.  At  this  the  captain  became  very  angry, 
and  stormed  boisterously  at  them,  calling'  them  many 
hard  names  for  which  the  preacher  reproved  him.  When 


DAWNING  OF  BRIGHTER  DAYS. 


175 


they  became  silent  so  that  he  could  be  distinctly  heard, 
he  renewed  his  request  to  stay  over  night.  The  captain 
paused  a  long  time,  looking  steadily  at  him  and  then 
said,  ‘  I  hate  to  let  you  stay  the  worst  of  any  man  I  ever 
saw  ;  but  as  I  never  refused  a  stranger  a  night’s  lodging 
in  all  my  life,  you  may  alight.’ 

“  Soon  after  entering  the  house,  he  requested  a 
private  room  where  he  might  retire.  The  family  were 
curious  to  know  for  what  purpose  he  retired,  and  con¬ 
trived  to  ascertain,  when  it  was  found  that  he  was  on  his 
knees.  After  continuing  a  long  time  in  secret  devotion, 
he  came  into  the  parlor  and  found  supper  prepared. 
Captain  Sears  seated  himself  at  table,  and  invited  his 
guest  to  come  and  partake  with  him.  He  came  to  the 
table,  and  said,  ‘With  your  permission,  captain,  I  will 
ask  the  blessing  of  God  upon  our  food  before  we  par¬ 
take,’  to  which  the  captain  assented. 

“  During  the  evening  the  preacher  had  occasion  to  re¬ 
prove  his  host  several  times.  In  a  few  days  the  captain 
attended  a  military  parade ;  and  his  men,  having  heard 
that  the  man  who  had  made  so  much  noise  in  the  country 
had  spent  a  night  with  him,  inquired  of  him  what  he 
thought  of  this  singular  person.  ‘  Do  you  ask  what  I 
think  of  the  stranger  ?’  said  he,  ‘  I  know  he  is  a  man  of 
God.’  ‘Pray  how  do  you  know  that,  captain?’  inquired 
some.  ‘How  do  I  know  it?’  he  replied,  ‘I  will  tell 


176  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

you  honestly — the  devil  trembled  in  me  at  his  reproof.’ 
And  so  it  was.  The  evil  spirit  found  no  place  to  remain 
in  his  heart.  I  have  spent  many  a  comfortable  night 
under  the  hospitable  roof  of  Captain  Sears.  He  lived 
long  an  example  of  piety — the  stranger’s  host  and  com¬ 
forter,  and  especially  the  preacher’s  friend.  By  such 
means  the  work  was  commenced  in  this  region,  and 
spread  among  the  people.” 

Bichard  Garrettson  probably  entered  the  ministry 
in  1778,  as  in  the  minutes  of  1779,  in  which  his  name 
first  appears,  he  stands  continued  on  trial.  His  travels 
in  the  work  were  quite  extensive  until  1783,  when  his 
name  disappears  from  the  minutes.  He  was  a  brother  of 
Freeborn  Garrettson,  and  is  represented  as  having  been 
a  good  and  zealous  man  and  a  useful  minister.  In  1781 
he  was  sent  to  labor  in  Virginia,  and  towards  the  close  of 
that  Conference  year  Mr.  Garrettson  says,  “  I  attended 
my  brother  Richard  Garrettson’s  Quarterly  meeting ;  and 
we  both  had  great  freedom  to  preach  the  word,  and  a 
precious,  powerful  time.  My  brother  traveled  several 
days  with  me,  and  we  had  sweet  times  together.”  Af¬ 
terward  he  remarks,  “I  perceived  that  the  Lord  had 
blessed  my  brother  Richard’s  labors  in  this  place.” 

George  Mair  was  admitted  on  trial  by  the  Confer¬ 
ence  this  year,  and  was  appointed  to  Philadelphia,  but, 
as  we  have  seen,  volunteered  as  a  missionary  to  17  *  t 


DAWNING  OF  BRIGHTER  DAYS. 


177 


Jersey.  He  was  “ grave,  undaunted,”  and  “invincible 
to  everything  but  truth.”  Mr.  Ware  describes  a  love- 
feast  held  by  Mr.  Mair,  which  affords  a  good  illustration 
of  his  labors  and  success  in  that  unpromising  portion  of 
the  province  which  he  had  the  bravery  and  zeal  to  enter. 
The  account,  without  which  our  work  would  be  incom¬ 
plete,  is  as  follows  : — 

“In  the  year  of  our  Lord  1780,  when  we  were  con¬ 
tending  for  independence,  not  with  Great  Britain  alone, 
but  with  her  Indian  and  Hessian  mercenaries,  and  what 
was  worse,  with  many  of  our  fellow  citizens  who  despised 
independence,  or,  in  despair  of  obtaining  it,  had  joined 
the  enemy ;  when  our  country  was  laid  waste  by  fire  and 
sword,  and  many  hundreds  who  had  embarked  in  the 
cause  of  freedom  were  perishing  in  captivity,  with  hun¬ 
ger  and  cold ;  when  many  bosoms  were  agitated  with  the 
thoughts  of  revenge  on  our  cruel  and  unnatural  enemies, 
and  resolved  with  independence  to  live  or  die — it  was  at 
such  a  time  as  this,  when  little  was  known,  or  thought, 
or  said  about  the  way  to  heaven,  a  missionary  of  the 
Methodist  order  volunteered  for  East  Jersey,  and  was 
instrumental  in  producing  a  religious  excitement  of  a 
very  interesting  character.  Many  who  seemed  to  have 
forgotten  that  they  were  accountable  creatures,  and 
lived  in  enmity  one  with  another  on  account  of  the  part 
they  had  taken  in  the  great  national  quarrel,  were 


178  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

brought  to  follow  the  advice  of  St.  Paul,  ‘  Be  ye  kind 
one  to  another,  tender  hearted,  forgiving  one  another, 
even  as  God  for  Christ’s  sake  hath  forgiv.en  you.’ 

“  Of  this  I  saw  a  pleasing  exhibition  in  a  love-feast 
at  a  Quarterly  meeting  held  by  our  missionary,  Mr. 
George  Mair,  previous  to  his  taking  leave  of  his  spiritual 
children  in  the  north-west  part  of  East  Jersey.  I  saw’ 
there  those  who  had  cordially  hated,  lovingly  embrace 
each  other,  and  heard  them  praise  the  Lord  who  had 
made  them  one  in  Christ.  The  meeting  was  held  in  a 
barn,  attended  by  several  preachers,  one  of  whom  opened 
it  on  Saturday,  and  great  power  attended  the  word ; 
many  wept  aloud,  some  for  joy  and  some  for  grief ;  many, 
filled  with  amazement,  fled,  and  left  room  for  the 
preachers  to  have  access  to  the  mourners,  to  pray  with 
and  exhort  them  to  believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  which 
many  did,  and  rejoiced  with  great  joy.  Such  a  meeting 
I  had  never  seen  before. 

“  Next  morning  we  met  early  for  love-feast.  All  that 
had  obtained  peace  with  God,  and  all  who  were  seeking 
it,  were  invited,  and  the  barn  was  nearly  full.  As  few 
present  had  ever  been  in  a  love-feast,  Mr.  Mair  explained 
to  us  its  nature  and  design,  namely,  to  take  a  little  bread 
and  water,  not  as  a  Sacrament,  but  in  token  of  our 
Christian  love,  in  imitation  of  a  primitive  usage,  and 


DAWNING  OF  BRIGHTER  DAYS. 


179 


then  humbly  and  briefly  to  declare  the  great  things  the 
Lord  had  done  for  them  in  having  had  mercy  on  them. 

“Mr.  James  Sterling,  of  Burlington,  West  Jersey, 
was  the  first  who  spoke,  and  the  plain  and  simple  narra¬ 
tive  of  liis  Christian  experience  was  very  affecting  to 
many.  After  him,  rose  one  of  the  new  converts,  a  Mr. 
Egbert,  and  said,  CI  was  standing  in  my  door,  and  saw  a 
man  at  a  distance,  well  mounted  on  horse-back,  and  as 
he  drew  near  I  had  thoughts  of  hailing  him  to  inquire  the 
news  ;  but  he  forestalled  me  by  turning  into  my  yard 
and  saying  to  me,  “  Pray,  sir,  can  you  tell  me  the  way  to 
heaven  ?”  “  The  way  to  heaven,  sir ;  we  all  hope  to  get 

to  heaven,  and  there  are  many  ways  that  men  take.” 
“  Ah  !  but,”  said  the  stranger,  “  I  want  to  know  the  best 
way.”  “Alight,  sir,  if  you  please;  I  should  like  to  hear 
you  talk  about  the  way  you  deem  the  best.  When  I  was 
a  boy  I  used  to  hear  my  mother  talk  about  the  way  to 
heaven,  and  I  am  under  an  impression  you  must  know 
the  way.”  He  did  alight,  and  I  was  soon  convinced  the 
judgment  I  had  formed  of  the  stranger  was  true.  My 
doors  were  opened,  and  my  neighbors  invited  to  come 
and  see  and  hear  a  man  who  could  and  would,  I  verily 
believed,  tell  us  the  best  way  to  heaven.  And  it  was 
not  long  before  myself,  my  wife,  and  several  of  my 
family,  together  with  many  of  my  neighbors,  were  well 
assured  we  were  in  the  way,  for  we  had  peace  with  God, 


180  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

with  one  another,  ancl  did  ardently  long  and  fervently 
pray  for  the  peace  and  salvation  of  all  men.  Tell  me, 
friends,’  said  he,  ‘is  not  this  the  way  to  heaven  ? 

“  ‘It  is  true  many  of  us  were  for  a  time  greatly  alarmed 
and  troubled.  We  communed  together  and  said,  It  is  a 
doubtful  case  if  God  will  have  mercy  on  us,  and  forgive 
us  our  sins ;  and  if  he  does,  it  must  be  after  we  have 
passed  through  long  and  deep  repentance.  But  our  mis¬ 
sionary,  to  whom  we  jointly  made  known  our  unbeliev¬ 
ing  fears,  said  to  us,  “  Cheer  up,  my  friends,  ye  are  not 
far  from  the  kingdom  of  God.  Can  any  of  you  he  a 
greater  sinner  than  Saul  of  Tarsus  ?  and  how  long  did 
it  take  him  to  repent  ?  Three  days  were  all.  The  Phi¬ 
lippian  jailor,  too,  in  the  same  hour  in  which  he  was  con¬ 
victed,  was  baptized,  rejoicing  in  God,  with  all  his  house. 
Come,”  said  he,  “let  us  have  faith  in  God,  remembering 
the  saying  of  Christ,  Ye  believe  in  Clod,  believe  also  in 
me.  Come,  let  us  go  down  upon  our  knees  and  claim 
the  merit  of  his  death  for  the  remission  of  sins,  and  he 
will  do  it — look  to  yourselves,  each  man,  God  is  here.” 
Instantly  one  who  was,  I  thought,  the  greatest  sinner 
in  the  house  except  myself,  fell  to  the  floor  as  one 
dead ;  and  we  thought  he  was  dead ;  but  he  was 
not  literally  dead,  for  there  he  sits  with  as  significant 
a  smile  as  any  one  present.’  Here  the  youth  of 
whom  he  spoke  uttered  the  word  Glory  !  with  a  look 


DAWNING  OF  BRIGHTER  DAYS. 


181 


and  tone  of  voice  that  ran  through  the  audience  like  an 
electric  shock,  and  for  a  time  interrupted  the  speaker ; 
but  he  soon  resumed  his  narrative  by  saying,  ‘  The 
preacher  hade  us  not  be  alarmed — we  must  all  die  to 
live.  Instantly  I  caught  him  in  my  arms  and  exclaimed, 
The  guilt  I  felt  and  the  vengeance  I  feared ,  are  gone, 
and  now  I  know  heaven  is  not  far  off ;  hut  here,  and 
there,  and  wherever  Jesus  manifests  himself  is  heaven .’ 
H^re  his  powers  of  speech  failed,  and  he  sat  down  and 
wept,  and  there  was  not,  I  think,  one  dry  eye  in  the 
barn. 

“A  German  spoke  next,  and  if  I  could  tell  what  he 
said  as  told  by  him,  it  would  he  worth  a  place  in  any 
man’s  memory.  But  this  I  cannot  do.  He,  however, 
spoke  to  the  following  import : — 

“  1  When  de  preacher  did  come  to  mine  house,  and  did 
say,  “  Peace  he  on  this  habitation ;  I  am  come,  fader,  to 
see  if  in  dese  troublesome  times  I  can  find  any  in  your 
parts  dat  does  know  de  way  to  dat  country  where  war, 
sorrow,  and  crying  is  no  more;  and  of  whom  could  I  in¬ 
quire  so  properly  as  of  one  to  whom  God  has  given  many 
days  ?”  When  he  did  say  dis,  I  was  angry,  and  did  try 
to  say  to  him,  Go  out  of  mine  house ;  but  I  could  not 
speak,  but  did  tremble,  and  when  mine  anger  was  gone 
I  did  say,  I  does  fear  I  does  not  know  de  way  to  dat 
goodest  place,  hut  mine  wife  does  know ;  sit  down  and  I 


182  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

will  call  her.  Just  den  mine  wife  did  come  in,  and  de 
stranger  did  say,  “  Dis,  fader,  is,  I  presume,  yourn  wife, 
of  whom  you  say  she  does  know  de  way  to  a  better 
country,  de  way  to  heaven.  Dear  woman,  will  you  tell 
it  me?”  After  mine  wife  did  look  at  de  stranger  one 
minute,  she  did  say,  I  do  know  Jesus,  and  is  not  he  de 
way  ?  De  stranger  did  den  fall  on  his  knees  and  tank 
God  for  bringing  him  to  mine  house,  where  dere  was  one 
dat  did  know  de  way  to  heaven ;  he  did  den  pray  for 
me  and  mine  children,  dat  we  might  be  like  mine  Avife, 
and  all  go  to  heaven  togeder.  Mine  wife  did  den  pray 
in  Dutch,  and  some  of  mine  children  did  fall  on  deir 
knees,  and  I  did  fall  on  mine,  and  when  she  did  pray  no 
more  de  preacher  did  pray  again,  and  mine  oldest 
daughter  did  cry  so  loud. 

“  ‘From  dat  time  I  did  seek  de  Lord,  and  did  fear  he 
would  not  hear  me,  for  I  had  made  de  heart  of  mine  Avife 
so  sorry  when  I  did  tell  her  she  Avas  mad.  But  de 
preacher  did  show  me  so  many  promises  dat  I  did  tell 
mine  wife  if  she  would  forgive  me,  and  fast  and  pray 
wid  me  all  day  and  all  night,  I  did  hope  de  Lord  would 
forgive  me.  Dis  did  please  mine  wife,  but  she  did  say, 
We  must  do  all  in  de  name  of  de  Lord  Jesus.  About 
de  middle  of  de  night  I  did  tell  mine  wife  I  should  not 
live  till  morning,  mine  distress  Avas  too  great.  But  she 
did  say,  Mine  husband,  God  Avill  not  let  you  die ;  and 


DAWNING  OF  BRIGHTER  DAYS. 


183 


just  as  the  day  did  break  mine  heart  did  break,  and  tears 
did  run  so  fast,  and  I  did  say,  Mine  wife,  I  does  now 
believe  mine  God  will  bless  me,  and  she  did  say,  Amen, 
amen,  come,  Lord  Jesus.  Just  den  mine  oldest  daughter 
who  had  been  praying  all  night,  did  come  in  and  did  fall 
on  mine  neck,  and  said,  0  mine  fader,  Jesus  has  blessed 
me.  And  den  joy  did  come  into  mine  heart,  and  we 
have  gone  on  rejoicing  in  de  Lord  ever  since.  Great 
fear  did  fall  on  mine  neighbors,  and  mine  barn  would  not 
hold  all  de  peoples  dat  does  come  to  learn  de  way  to 
heaven.’  His  looks,  his  tears,  and  his  broken  English, 
kept  the  people  in  tears,  mingled  with  smiles,  and  even 
laughter,  not  with  lightness,  but  joy,  for  they  believed 
every  word  he  said. 

“After  him,  one  got  up  and  said,  For  months  previ¬ 
ous  to  the  coming  of  Mr.  Mair  into  their  place,  he  was 
one  of  the  most  wretched  of  men.  He  had  heard  of  the 
Methodists,  and  the  wonderful  works  done  among  them, 
and  joined  in  ascribing  it  all  to  the  devil.  At  length  a 
fear  fell  on  him ;  he  thought  he  should  die  and  be  lost. 
He  lost  all  relish  for  food*  and  sleep  departed  from  him. 
His  friends  thought  him  mad;  but  his  own  conclusion 
was,  that  he  was  a  reprobate,  having  been  brought  up  a 
Calvinist ;  and  he  was  tempted  to  shoot  himself,  that  he 
might  know  the  worst.  He  at  length  resolved  he  would 
hear  the  Methodists ;  and  when  he  came  the  barn  wa3 


184  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

full;  there  was,  however,  room  at  the  door,  where  he 
could  see  the  preacher,  and  hear  well.  He  was  soon  con¬ 
vinced  he  was  no  reprobate,  and  felt  a  heart  to  beg  of 
God  to  forgive  him  for  ever  harboring  a  thought  that  he, 
the  kind  Parent  of  all,  had  reprobated  any  of  his  child¬ 
ren.  And  listening,  he  at  length  understood  the  cause 
of  his  wretchedness ;  it  was  guilt,  from  which  Jesus  came 
to  save  us.  The  people  all  around  him  being  in  tears, 
and  hearing  one  in  the  barn  cry,  Glory  to  Jesus,  hardly 
knowing  what  he  did,  he  drew  his  hat  from  under  his 
arm,  and  swinging  it  over  his  head,  began  to  huzza  with 
might  and  main.  The  preacher  saw  him  and  knew  he 
was  not  in  sport,  for  the  tears  were  flowing  down  his 
face,  and  smiling,  said,  ‘Young  man,  thou  art  not  far 
from  the  kingdom  of  God ;  but  rather  say,  Hallelujah, 
the  Lord  God  omnipotent  reigneth.’  Several  others 
spoke,  and  more  would  have  spoken,  had  not  a  general 
cry  arisen,  when  the  doors  were  thrown  open  that  all 
might  come  in  and  see  the  way  that  God  sometimes 
works.” 

Mr.  Mair  enjoyed  the  acquaintance  and  friendship  of 
Rev.  Uzal  Ogden,  an  evangelical  and  zealous  clergyman 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  who  showed  much 
friendly  regard  to  the  Methodists  at  that  early  day,  and 
cooperated  with  them  in  the  work  of  disseminating  truth 
and  righteousness  among  the  people.  He  will  appear 


DAWNING  OF  BRIGHTER  DAYS. 


185 


more  prominently  in  our  pages  hereafter.  We  make 
this  allusion  to  him  for  the  sake  of  introducing  a  letter 
addressed  by  him  to  Mr.  Mair.  It  is  dated  Newtown 
[Newton,  Sussex  Co.,  N.  J.],  10th  July,  1783. 

“TO  MR.  GEORGE  MAIR,  A  METHODIST  PREACHER.” 

“  Dear  Sir  : — Your  favor  of  the  10th  of  April,  I 
had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  yesterday.  The  regard  you 
express  for  me  merits  my  thanks ;  and  be  assured  your 
piety  and  zeal  have  gained  you  my  affection.  I  fer¬ 
vently  pray  that  you  may  be  the  peculiar  object  of  the 
love  of  God ;  that  yourself  and  family  may  be  blessed 
with  his  spiritual  and  temporal  favors ;  that  you  may 
never  be  ‘  weary  in  well  doing that  you  may  daily  be¬ 
hold  an  increase  of  success  of  your  ‘labor  of  love;’  and 
that  in  due  season  you  may  shine  as  a  star  of  the  first 
magnitude  in  the  celestial  regions,  because  you  shall  have 
been  instrumental  in  turning  many  persons  from  the 
commission  of  vice  to  the  practice  of  virtue. 

“  Oh !  the  bright,  the  dazzling  prospects  the  faithful 
servants  of  God  have  before  them,  when  they  look  be¬ 
yond  the  things  of  time  and  sense.  Let  a  due  respect 
to  the  ‘  recompense  of  reward’  of  the  faithful,  a  sense 
of  the  love  of  Christ  towards  us,  and  of  the  importance 
of  the  souls  of  men,  cause  us  to  be  animated  with  new 
zeal  to  promote  the  interests  of  religion,  occasion  us  to 


186  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

disregard  the  reproaches  of  the  unrighteous,  and  with 
resignation  and  patience  hear  whatever  cross  God  in  his 
good  providence  may  suffer  to  he  laid  upon  us. 

“  You  mention  you  have  lately  had  some  severe  conflicts 
with  the  powers  of  darkness,  and  who  is  without  such 
trials  among  the  righteous  ?  But,  happily,  you  have 
been  preserved  from  destruction  ;  you  have  experienced 
the  all-sufficiency  of  the  grace  of  God  for  your  comfort 
and  safety.  I  praise  the  Lord  that  he  hath  been  a 
‘present  help  to  you  in  time  of  trouble.’  Doubtless  in 
future  you  will  hereby  be  emboldened,  whatever  tempta¬ 
tions  or  afflictions  you  may  he  exercised  with,  to  ‘  trust 
in  the  Lord  Jehovah,’  as  ‘in  him  there  is  everlasting 
strength.’  And  for  your  peace  and  safety,  in  time  to 
come,  you  will,  I  conclude,  if  possible,  he  more  observ¬ 
ant  of  the  apostolic  injunction,  to  ‘  quench  not  the  Spirit, 
and  to  pray  without  ceasing.’  Our  security  and  joy  de¬ 
pend  much  on  our  duty  regarding  these  words  of  wisdom 
and  friendship  of  St.  Paul. 

“  May  God,  in  his  mercy,  grant  that  both  of  us  may 
he  more  circumspect  in  all  our  ways ;  ‘  redeem  the  time’ 
we  may  yet  he  favored  with  ;  enjoy  much  of  the  Divine 
presence ;  glorify  the  Almighty  on  earth  and  be  glorified 
by  him  in  heaven. 

“  Heaven !  Pleasing  word !  Blessed  place !  The 
habitation  of  the  righteous.  Though  we  meet  not  again 


DAWNING-  OF  BRIGHTER  DAYS. 


187 


here,  there,  even  there,  I  trust  we  shall  embrace  each 
other  never  more  to  part.  Delightful  idea  !  Let  it  so¬ 
lace  the  soul.  Let  it  give  us  that  happiness  we  are  de¬ 
prived  of  through  our  separation  from  each  other. 

“I  do  not  regret  the  countenance  I  have  shown  the 
Methodists ;  nor  shall  I  cease  to  be  friendly  towards 
them,  as  I  am  persuaded  they  are  instrumental  in 
advancing  the  divine  glory,  and  the  salvation  of  man¬ 
kind. 

“I  have  not  yet  received  the  pamphlet  written  by 
Lev.  Mr.  Knox,  though  I  expect  to  be  favored  writh  it  by 
Mr.  Roe  in  a  few  days. 

“  Ever  shall  I  be  happy  to  hear  from  you,  and  with 
punctuality  and  pleasure  answer  your  letters.  Believe 
me  to  be, 

“  Dear  Sir, 

“Your  sincere  friend, 

“  And  very  humble  servant, 

“  Uzal  Ogden.” 

As  the  above  letter  was  written  in  reply  to  one  from 
Mr.  Mair,  and  as  it  touches  some  points  of  personal  ex¬ 
perience  of  which  he  evidently  had  spoken  in  his  letter, 
it  gives  us  a  glimpse  of  his  interior  life ;  slight  indeed, 
yet  interesting  to  such  as  cherish  the  memorials  of  the 
Methodist  heroes  of  the  olden  time. 


188  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

In  1784  Mr.  Mair  was  appointed  to  Caroline,  Md.,  and 
before  the  next  Conference  be  bad  finished  his  labors 
and  departed  to  bis  rest.  He  was  a  man  of  affliction, 
but  possessed  a  clear  understanding  and  a  very  patient 
and  resigned  spirit. 


THE  WORK  AND  LABORERS  IN  1781. 


189 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  WORK  AND  LABORERS  IN  1781. 

The  Conference  of  1781  was  held  at  Choptank,  Dela¬ 
ware,  the  16th  of  April,  and  adjourned  to  Baltimore  the 
24th  of  the  same  month.  Several  preachers  from  Vir¬ 
ginia  and  North  Carolina  attended,  and  “all  but  one,” 
says  Asbury,  “  agreed  to  return  to  the  old  plan,  and  give 
up  the  administration  of  the  ordinances :  our  troubles 
now  seem  over  from  that  quarter ;  and  there  appears  to 
to  be  a  considerable  change  in  the  preachers  from  North 
to  South ;  all  was  conducted  in  peace  and  love.” 

At  this  Conference  New  Jersey  was  again  divided  into 
two  circuits,  which  were  called  West  and  East  Jersey. 
Caleb  B.  Pedicord  and  Joseph  Cromwell  wTere  appointed 
to  the  former,  and  James  0.  Cromwell  and  Henry  Met¬ 
calf  to  the  latter.  The  preachers  appear  to  have  re¬ 
mained  on  their  circuits  only  half  the  year ;  as  in  No¬ 
vember,  Joseph  Everett  was  sent  by  Bishop  Asbury  to 

travel  in  West  Jersey  with  James  0.  Cromwell.  It  is 
12 


190  MEMORIALS  OE  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

probable,  that  Pedicord  went  to  the  East  Jersey  circuit 
at  that  time,  and  labored  there  in  the  place  of  Cromwell. 
Everett  speaks  kindly  of  his  colleague,  and  says  that 
his  own  labors  were  blessed  in  the  conversion  of  many 
souls.  “In  the  West  Jersey,”  he  says,  “I  was  opposed 
by  the  Baptists  and  beset  by  Lutherans.  They  would 
have  put  a  period  to  my  life,  but  my  Master  had  more 
work  for  me  to  do.” 

Among  the  events  of  importance  to  the  Church  this 
year  was  the  conversion  of  Thomas  Ware.  He  was  a 
native  Jerseyman,  brought  up  in  the  Calvinistic  faith, 
and  was  a  revolutionary  patriot.  He  was  one  of  the 
nine  thousand  who  were  quartered  at  Perth  Amboy  in 
1776. 

When  he  heard  of  the  brilliant  victory  at  Trenton  he 
felt  assured  that  the  liberties  of  his  country  were  safe, 
but  he  soon  felt  the  necessity  of  a  higher  liberty — a 
freedom  from  the  bondage  of  sin  and  death.  But  his 
mind  was  confused  by  the  religious  opinions  he  had  been 
taught  in  his  childhood,  and  unable  to  solve  satisfactorily 
the  great  questions  concerning  God  and  destiny  that 
struggled  within  him,  he  became  dejected  in  spirit  and 
wandered  for  some  time  in  the  mazes  of  doubt,  knowing 
not  where  he  should  find  rest  to  his  soul. 

At  length  he  fell  into  a  project  of  going  to  sea.  The 
brig  was  about  to  sail,  and  “impatient,”  he  says,  “for 


THE  WORK  AND  LABORERS  IN  1781.  191 

the  hour  to  arrive  when  I  was  to  enter  upon  an  enter¬ 
prise  on  which  I  was  fully  bent,  I  wandered  to  a 
neighboring  grove,  not  merely  to  indulge  in  reverie,  but 
to  think  more  minutely  on  the  subject  of  our  adventure 
than  I  had  before  done.  While  I  was  laboring  to  find 
arguments  to  justify  the  course  I  was  about  to  pursue, 
a  stranger  passed  me,  though  I  was  so  merged  in  the 
thicket  that  he  did  not  see  me.  As  he  was  going  by,  he 
began  to  sing  the  following  lines : — 

*  Still  out  of  the  deepest  abyss 
Of  trouble,  I  mournfully  cry, 

And  pine  to  recover  my  peace, 

To  see  my  Kedeemer  and  die. 

I  cannot,  I  cannot  forbear 

These  passionate  longings  for  home. 

Oh  !  when  shall  my  spirit  be  there  ? 

Oh  !  when  will  the  messenger  come  V 

As  he  walked  his  horse  slowly  I  heard  every  word  dis¬ 
tinctly,  and  was  deeply  touched,  not  only  with  the 
melody  of  his  voice  which  was  among  the  best  I  ever 
heard,  but  with  the  words,  and  especially  the  couplet, — 

‘  I  cannot,  I  cannot  forbear 

These  passionate  longings  for  home.’ 

“  After  he  ceased  I  went  out  and  followed  him  a  great 


192  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

distance,  hoping  he  would  begin  again.  He,  however, 
stopped  at  the  house  of  a  Methodist  and  dismounted.  I 
then  concluded  he  must  be  a  Methodist  preacher,  and 
would  probably  preach  that  evening.  I  felt  a  wish  to 
hear ;  but  thought  I  could  not  in  consequence  of  a  pre¬ 
vious  engagement. 

“As  yet  I  knew  very  little  of  the  Methodists.  My 
mother,  who  was  strongly  prejudiced  against  them, 
charged  me  to  refrain  from  going  after  them ;  and  I  had 
heard  many  things  said  against  them,  especially  that 
they  were  disaffected  against  their  country.  There  was 
one  Methodist  in  town,  however,  to  whom  I  was  under 
some  obligation.  This  good  man  had  noticed  me ;  and 
suspecting  that  I  was  under  some  religious  impressions, 
he  came  and  told  me  that  Mr.  Pedicord,  a  most  excellent 
preacher,  had  come  into  the  place,  ‘and  would  preach 
that  night,  and  he  very  much  wished  me  to  hear  him. 
I  told  him  I  presumed  I  had  seen  the  preacher,  and  men¬ 
tioned  the  lines  I  had  heard  him  sing  in  the  road.  On 
inquiring  of  him  if  he  knew  such  a  hymn,  he  replied  that 
he  did  very  well,  and  immediately  commenced  and  sung 
it  to  the  same  tune ;  and,  as  he  was  an  excellent  singer, 
I  was  deeply  affected,  even  to  tears.  I  told  him  I  would 
be  glad  to  hear  Mr.  Pedicord,  and  probably  should  hear 
a  part  of  the  sermon,  and  possibly  the  whole,  if  it  were 
not  too  long.  I  accordingly  went,  and  was  there  when 


THE  WORK  AND.  LABORERS  IN  17.81.  193 

the  preacher  commenced  his  service.  I  thought  he  sung 
and  prayed  delightfully.  His  text  was  taken  from  the 
24th  chapter  of  Luke :  ‘  Then  opened  he  their  under¬ 
standing,  that  they  might  understand  the  Scriptures. 
And  he  said  unto  them,  Thus  it  is  written,  and  thus  it 
behooved  Christ  to  suffer,  and  to  rise  from  the  dead 
the  third  day,  that  repentance  and  remission  of  sins 
should  be  preached  in  his  name  among  all  nations, 
beginning  at  Jerusalem.’  Soon  was  I  convinced  that 
all  men  were  redeemed  and  might  be  saved — and  saved 
now  from  the  guilt,  practice,  and  love  of  sin.  With  this 
I  was  greatly  affected,  and  could  hardly  refrain  from  ex¬ 
claiming  aloud,  ‘  This  is  the  best  intelligence  I  ever 
heard.’  When  the  meeting  closed,  I  hastened  to  my 
lodgings,  retired  to  my  room,  fell  upon  my  knees  before 
God,  and  spent  much  of  the  night  in  penitential  tears. 
I  did  not  once  think  of  my  engagement  with  my  sea- 
bound  companions  until  the  next  day,  when  I  went  and 
told  the  young  man  who  had  induced  me  to  enlist  into 
the  project  that  I  had  abandoned  all  thoughts  of  going 
to  sea.  They,  however,  proceeded  in  their  perilous  un¬ 
dertaking,  were  betrayed,  their  officers  thrown  into 
prison,  and  the  brig  and  cargo  confiscated.  When  I 
heard  of  this  I  praised  the  Lord  for  my  deliverance 
from  this  danger  and  infamy,  which  I  considered  worse 
than  death. 


194  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

“  1  now  gave  up  the  study  of  navigation,  and  aban¬ 
doned  all  company  but  that  of  tbe  pious.  Tbe  New 
Testament  I  read  over  and  over,  and  was  charmed  with 
the  character  of  God  our  Saviour,  as  revealed  in  it ;  and 
I  esteemed  reproach,  for  his  sake,  more  desirable  than 
all  earthly  treasure.” 

Having  experienced  the  blessing  of  pardon,  Mr.  Ware 
became  at  once  a  zealous  laborer  in  the  cause  he  had  es¬ 
poused.  He  traveled  sixty  miles  to  see  an  unconverted 
sister  and  to  tell  her  what  the  Lord  had  done  for  him. 
In  his  first  interview  with  her  she  became  convinced  of 
the  necessity  of  religion,  and  never  afterward  rested  un¬ 
til  she  obtained  it. 

Mount  Holly  was  the  place  of  his  spiritual  birth, 
“and  on  that  account,”  he  says,  “it  has  ever  been  to 
me  the  most  lovely  spot  I  ever  saw,  not  even  excepting 
Greenwich,  the  place  of  my  nativity.  I  was  here  in 
former  years  as  a  soldier,  on  my  way  to  the  army,  and 
this  was  my  retreat  when,  in  a  state  of  melancholy  bor¬ 
dering  on  despair,  I  sought  concealment.  Here,  now, 
while  the  joyous  villagers  sought  me  in  vain  on  the  play¬ 
ful  green,  I  passed  the  solemn  twilight  in  ■audience  with 
my  God.  Here,  too,  I  had  spent  the  live-long  day  in 
fasting  and  melting  thoughts  on  Calvary,  agitated  with 
petrifying  fears  and  gloomy  horrors  ;  sometimes  imagin¬ 
ing  sounds  of  ominous  import,  as  though  the  mountain 


THE  WORK  AND  LABORERS  IN  1781. 


195 


tops  had  become  the  rendezvous  of  fiends  or  beasts  of 
prey.  But  when  the  disquietude  of  my  mind  was  allayed 
by  the  peaceful  enjoyment  of  the  grace  of  life,  I  no 
longer  sought  concealment ;  and  it  was  strange  to  see 
with  what  amazement  many  listened  while  I  told  them 
what  the  Lord  had  done  for  me.  Some  wept  bitterly, 
confessed  their  ignorance  of  such  a  state  and  pronounced 
me  happy;  while  others  thought  me  mad ,  and  on  the 
Methodists,  not  on  me,  laid  all  the  blame  of  what  they 
conceived  to  be  my  derangement.” 

He  was  soon  elevated  to  the  leadership  of  a  class  and 
exercised  his  gift  of  exhortation.  Many  of  his  brethren 
entertained  the  opinion  that  he  ought  to  preach,  and  ex¬ 
pressed  to  him  their  views  respecting  the  matter.  “But 
I  believed  them  not,”  he  says.  “  The  affectionate  solic¬ 
itude  I  felt  for  the  salvation  of  sinners,  which  had 
prompted  me  to  some  bold  acts  that  I  had  performed 
from  a  sense  of  duty,  I  did  not  construe  as  a  call  to  the 
ministry,  but  as  a  collateral  evidence  of  my  adoption 
into  the  family  of  God.  That  a  knowledge  of  the 
learned  languages  was  essential  to  qualify  a  man  to 
preach  the  gospel,  as  many  seemed  to  think,  I  did  not  be¬ 
lieve,  for  some  of  the  best  preachers  I  ever  heard  had  it 
not ;  but  they  had  other  qualifications — a  good  natural 
understanding  and  discriminating  powers,  which  fall  not 
to  the  common  lot  of  men,  however  pious  and  learned 


196  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

they  may  be.  When  my  feelings  were  moved  on  the 
subject  of  religion  and  the  salvation  of  souls,  I  could 
talk  somewhat  readily ;  and  I  sometimes  had  the  elo¬ 
quence  of  tears.  My  capacity  and  knowledge  were,  in 
my  own  estimation,  too  limited  ever  to  think  of  being  a 
preacher.  I  was  a  leader  and  an  exhorter ;  and  more 
than  these  I  never  expected  to  be. 

“  Such  were  my  views  and  feelings  when  Bishop  As- 
bury  came  to  New  Mills,  about  seven  miles  from  Mount 
Holly,  and  sent  for  me  to  come  and  see  him.  I  had  not 
been  introduced  to  him,  nor  did  he  previously  know  me. 
On  entering  his  room,  he  fixed  his  discriminating  eye 
upon  me,  and  seemed  to  be  examining  me  from  head  to 
foot  as  I  approached  him.  He  reached  me  his  hand, 
and  said,  ‘  This,  I  suppose,  is  brother  Ware,  or  shall  I 
say  Pedicord  the  younger  V  I  replied,  ‘  My  name  is  Ware, 
sir,  and  I  claim  some  affinity  to  the  Wesleyan  family, 
and  Mr.  Pedicord  as  my  spiritual  father.’  ‘Youthen 
revere  the  father  of  the  Methodists  ?’  said  he.  ‘  I  do,’  I 
replied,  ‘  greatly ;  the  first  time  I  heard  his  name  men¬ 
tioned,  it  was  said  of  him,  by  way  of  reproach,  that  he 
had  brought  shame  upon  the  Christian  world  by  preach¬ 
ing  up  free  will.  Free  will,  said  I,  and  what  would  you 
have  him  preach  ? — bound  will  ?  He  might  as  well  go  with 
St.  Patrick  and  preach  to  the  fish,  as  preach  to  men 
without  a  will.  From  that  time,  I  resolved  to  hear  the 


THE  WORK  AND  LABORERS  IN  1781. 


197 


Methodists,  against  whom  I  had  been  so  much  preju¬ 
diced.’ 

“‘Sit  down,’  said  Mr.  Asbury,  ‘I  have  somewhat  to 
say  unto  thee.  Have  all  men  since  the  fall  been  pos¬ 
sessed  of  free  will  ?’  I  replied  that  I  considered  they 
had,  since  the  promise  made  to  Adam,  that  the  seed  of 
the  woman  should  bruise  the  serpent’s  head.  ‘  Can  man, 
then,  turn  himself  and  live?’  said  he.  ‘So  thought 
Ezekiel,’  I  replied,  ‘  when  he  said,  Turn  yourselves  and 
live,’  remarking,  as  I  understood  it,  that  he  can  receive 
the  testimony  which  God  has  given  of  his  Son ;  and 
thus,  through  grace,  receive  power  to  become  a  child  of 
God.  ‘  Are  all  men  accountable  to  God  ?’  he  still  fur¬ 
ther  inquired.  I  replied,  ‘  The  almighty  Jesus  says, 
“  Behold  I  come  quickly,  and  my  reward  is  with  me,  to 
give  to  every  man  according  as  his  works  shall  be.”  ’ 
‘  On  what  do  you  found  the  doctrine  of  universal  ac¬ 
countability  ?’  he  added.  ‘  On  the  doctrine  of  universal 
grace — “  The  grace  of  God  which  bringeth  salvation 
hath  appeared  unto  all  men,”  ’  &c.,  was  my  reply. 

“  He  then  looked  at  me  very  sternly,  and  said,  ‘  What 
is  this  I  hear  of  you  ?  It  is  said  you  have  disturbed  the 
peaceful  inhabitants  of  Holly,  by  rudely  entering  into  a 
house  where  a  large  number  of  young  people  were  as¬ 
sembled  for  innocent  amusement,  and  when  welcomed  by 
the  company  and  politely  invited  to  be  seated,  you  re- 


198  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

fused,  and  proceeded  to  address  them  in  such  a  way  that 
some  became  alarmed  and  withdrew,  and  the  rest  soon 
followed.’  To  this  I  answered,  ‘  My  zeal  in  this  affair 
may  have  carried  me  too  far.  But  I  knew  them  to  be 
generally  my  friends  and  well-wishers,  and  felt  to  do  as 
the  man  out  of  whom  Christ  cast  a  legion  of  devils  was 
directed,  namely,  to  go  and  show  my  friends  how  great 
things  God  had  done  for  me.  It  is  true,  when  I  entered 
the  room,  some  appeared  delighted  to  see  me,  and 
heartily  welcomed  me  ;  but  those  who  knew  me  best  ap¬ 
peared  sad.  And  when  invited  to  take  a  glass  and  be 
seated,  I  told  them  I  must  be  excused,  for  I  had  not 
come  to  spend  the  evening  with  them,  but  to  invite  them 
to  spend  it  with  me.  “You  know  me,”  I  said,  “and 
how  delighted  I  have  often  been  in  your  company,  and 
with  the  amusements  in  which  you  have  met  to  indulge. 
But  I  cannot  now  go  with  you.  My  conscience  will  not 
permit  me  to  do  so.  But  as  none  of  your  consciences, 
I  am  persuaded,  forbid  your  going  with  me,  I  have  come 
to  invite  you  to  go  with  me  and  hear  the  excellent  Mr. 
Pedicord  preach  his  farewell  sermon.  Pardon  me,  my 
friends,  I  am  constrained  to  tell  you  the  Lord  has  done 
great  things  for  me  through  the  instrumentality  of  this 
good  man.”  The  circle  was  not  very  lai’ge.  Not  a 
word  of  reply  was  made  to  what  I  said.  Some  wrere  af¬ 
fected  and  soon  left  after  I  withdrew7.  It  is  true  some 


THE  WORK  AND  LABORERS  IN  1781. 


199 


of  the  citizens  were  offended,  and  said  it  wras  too  much 
that  the  Methodists  should  give  tone  to  the  town.  “Must 
the  youth  of  Mount  Holly,”  said  they,  “  ask  leave  of 
the  Methodists  if  they  would  spend  an  evening  together 
in  innocent  amusement?”  Others  said,  “The  young 
man  must  have  acted  from  a  Divine  impulse  or  he  could 
not  have  done  it,  as  he  is  naturally  diffident  and  unas¬ 
suming.”  But  I  never  knew  that  any  one  of  the  party 
was  offended.’ 

“  Bishop  Asbury  listened  to  this  simple  explanation 
of  the  matter  attentively,  but  without  relaxing  the  stern¬ 
ness  of  his  look,  or  making  any  reply  to  it.  He  then 
branched  off  to  another  subject.  ‘Was  it  not  bold  and 
adventurous,’  said  he,  ‘for  so  young  a  Methodist  to  fill, 
for  a  whole  week,  without  license  or  consultation,  the 
appointments  of  such  a  preacher  as  George  Mail*  ?’  I 
replied  that  Mr.  Mair  was  suddenly  called  from  the  cir¬ 
cuit  by  sickness  in  his  family,  and  I  saw  that  he  was 
deeply  afflicted,  not  only  on  account  of  the  distress  his 
family  were  suffering,  but,  especially,  because  of  the  dis¬ 
appointments  it  must  occasion  on  a  part  of  the  circuit 
where  there  was  a  good  work  going  on ;  that  some  of 
these  appointments  were  new,  and  there  was  no  one  to 
hold  any  meeting  with  the  people  whatever ;  that  I  was 
therefore  induced,  soon  after  he  was  gone,  to  resolve  on 
going  to  some  of  these  places  and  telling  those  who 


200  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

might  come  out  the  cause  of  the  preacher’s  absence ;  and 
that  if  I  was  sometimes  constrained  to  exhort  these  peo¬ 
ple  without  a  formal  license,  it  was  with  fear  and  trem¬ 
bling,  and  generally  very  short,  unless  when  the  tears 
of  the  people  caused  me  to  forget  that  I  was  on  unau¬ 
thorized  ground. 

“  He  still  said  nothing,  either  by  way  of  reproof  or 
commendation,  more  than  the  manner  of  his  introducing 
the  subjects  might  seem  to  imply.  And  being  under  an 
impression  that  his  remarks  were  designed  to  mortify  me 
for  my  course  in  the  matter  of  the  ball,  and  in  taking  the 
circuit  in  the  absence  of  Mr.  Mair,  I  said,  ‘Mr.  Asbury, 
if  the  person  who  informed  you  against  me  had  told  me 
of  my  errors,  I  would  have  acknowledged  them.’  Here 
he  stopped  me  by  clasping  me  in  his  arms,  and  saying 
in  an  affectionate  tone,  ‘  You  are  altogether  mistaken, 
my  son, — it  was  your  friend  Pedicord  who  told  me  of 
your  pious  deeds,  and  advised  that  you  should  be  sent  to 
Dover  circuit,  which  had  but  one  preacher  on  it that  I 
could  tell  the  people  if  I  pleased,  that  I  did  not  come 
in  the  capacity  of  a  preacher  but  only  to  assist  in  keep¬ 
ing  up  the  appointments  until  another  could  be  sent,  and 
that  he  would  give  me  a  testimonial  to  introduce  me.  But 
if  they  did  not  cordially  receive  me,  he  said,  I  might  re¬ 
turn,  and  he  would  see  me  and  compensate  me  for  my 
time  and  expenses.” 


THE  WORK  AND  LABORERS  IN  1781. 


201 


Being  thus  appealed  to,  lie  felt  that  he  could  not  well 
decline  entering  upon  the  work.  He  therefore  promised 
Asbury  that,  if  he  insisted  upon  it,  he  would  go  to  the 
circuit  and  assist  in  keeping  up  the  appointments  until  a 
preacher  could  be  sent  who  might  perform  the  regular 
work  of  a  minister.  Accordingly  in  the  early  part  of 
September,  1783,  he  “with  a  very  heavy  heart,”  set  his 
face  towards  the  Peninsula,  and,  having  reached  his  cir¬ 
cuit,  was  welcomed  by  the  people,  and  labored  with  sat¬ 
isfaction  and  success  among  them.  Thus  was  thrust  into 
the  vineyard  that  devoted  and  successful  laborer,  who  for 
more  than  half  a  century  ceased  not  to  declare  the 
whole  counsel  of  God,  and  who  having  fought  the  good 
fight,  finished  his  course  with  joy;  while  the  benedictions 
of  the  Church,  which  had  grown  to  such  magnitude  and 
strength  during  his  period  of  service,  attended  his  spirit 
in  its  triumphal  passage  to  heaven. 

Caleb  B.  Pedicord  was  one  of  the  serenest  and  most 
beautiful  lights  that  has  ever  adorned  the  firmament  of 
Methodism.  He  was  a  man  of  great  sweetness  of  spirit 
and  of  unquestioned  holiness.  His  devotion  to  the  work 
of  God  was  intense  and  absorbing,  and  neither  the  en¬ 
ticements  nor  the  persecutions  of  the  world  had  any 
power  to  move  him  from  the  post  of  duty.  There  he 
firmly  stood  and  bravely  fought,  until  he  victoriously  laid 
down  his  armor  for  the  crown  and  exaltation  of  a  Chris- 


202  •  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

tian  conqueror.  In  common  with  the  Methodist  min¬ 
isters  of  his  day  he  was  subjected  to  hardship  and  perse¬ 
cution.  He  was  once  beaten  upon  his  horse,  in  Mary¬ 
land,  by  a  shameless  persecutor,  and  the  scars  he  re¬ 
ceived  he  carried  to  his  grave. 

One  of  the  greatest  obstacles  which  beset  the  early 
ministry  of  Methodism  was  the  ignorance  of  the  people 
respecting  spiritual  things.  Many  who  had  the  form  of 
godliness  had  no  conception  whatever  of  the  deep  expe¬ 
riences  of  a  spiritual  life.  A  lady  in  Maryland,  who  had 
been  a  very  strict  Church  woman,  and  had  observed  the 
Sabbath  and  catechized  her  children,  became  convicted 
of  sin,  and  so  deep  did  her  distress  become  that  she  be¬ 
took  herself  to  her  bed,  not  knowing  what  was  the  mat¬ 
ter.  Pedicord  visited  her.  He  understood  her  case, 
and  with  his  sweetly  pathetic  voice  he  spoke  to  her  of 
the  great  Physician  who  had  an  infallible  remedy  for 
her  anguish  and  sorrow.  She  looked  to  Him,  believed, 
and  her  wounded  spirit  was  made  whole.  That  lady  was 
the  mother  of  the  late  venerated  William  Ryder  of  the 
Philadelphia  Conference.* 

To  manifest  strong  religious  emotions,  or  to  give  ex¬ 
pression  to  the  heart’s  gratitude  and  joy  in  exclama¬ 
tions  of  praise,  was  considered,  at  that  time,  by  many, 
an  evidence  either  of  fanaticism  or  of  mental  aberration. 

*  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal.,  May  12,  1837. 


THE  WORK  AND  LABORERS  IN  1781. 


208 


A  lady  in  the  eastern  part  of  New  Jersey  who  was 
awakened  under  the  ministry  of  Pedicord  in  1782,  ob¬ 
tained  the  knowledge  of  salvation  by  the  remission  of 
sins,  and  so  great  was  her  joy  that  she  shouted  aloud  her 
Saviour’s  praise.  The  people  were  startled.  They  con¬ 
cluded  she  must  be  insane.  Her  father,  who  had  previ¬ 
ously  joined  the  society,  was  sent  for,  and  on  arriving 
he  discovered  the  cause  of  her  ecstatic  expressions, 
which  was  simply  the  manifestation  of  God  to  her  soul. 
Instead  of  participating  in  the  alarm,  or  making  an  ef¬ 
fort  to  suppress  her  shouting,  he  said  he  wished  all  pre¬ 
sent  could  feel  as  she  felt.  That  it  was  not  an  evanes¬ 
cent  emotion  was  proved  by  a  subsequent  life  of  devo¬ 
tion,  extending  over  half  a  century.  When  she  came 
down  to  the  verge  of  Jordan,  she  exclaimed,  “  I  am  go¬ 
ing  home  where  pain  and  sickness  never  come,”  and 
passed  over  to  the  eternal  shores.  Thus  in  thousands  of 
cases  has  it  been  demonstrated  by  holy  and  useful  lives, 
and  peaceful  and  victorious  deaths,  that  the  deep  emo¬ 
tions  and  hearty  exclamations  which  have  been  peculiarly 
characteristic  of  Methodists  are  not  always  empty  cant, 
but  are  the  result  of  “  an  unction  from  the  Holy  One.” 

That  the  Divine  Being  exercises  a  special  providence 
over  those  that  love  Him  is  not  only  clearly  taught  in 
the  Scriptures,  but  is  also  strikingly  illustrated  some¬ 
times  in  the  lives  of  his  people.  An  escape  quite  as 


204  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

providential,  apparently,  as  that  of  John  Wesley  from 
the  burning  rectory,  is  recorded  of  Pedicord.  The  fact 
is  thus  given  by  Asbury :  “  A  remarkable  instance  oc¬ 
curred  of  the  watchful  care  of  God  over  his  people. 
Mr.  Pedicord  went  to  bed,  but  could  not  sleep,  though 
he  tried  again  and  again.  At  last  he  was  obliged  to 
rise ;  and  going  down  stairs  with  the  man  of  the  house, 
he  found  the  house  on  fire.”  That  unwelcome  and  sin¬ 
gular  unrest  was  the  means,  it  may  be,  of  saving  his  own 
and  others’  lives. 

Though  Mr.  Pedicord  was  appointed  to  West  Jersey, 
he  seems  to  have  labored  in  the  interior  and  also  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  State.  He  must  therefore  have  been 
abundant  in  labors  as  well  as  usefulness.  The  fruit  of 
his  ministry  that  year  was  visible  in  New  Jersey  for  at 
least  half  a  century  after  he  had  passed  to  his  reward, 
and  the  effects  of  his  labors  are  probably  felt  to  this 
day. 

We  have  spoken  of  his  devotion  to  the  cause  of  his 
Master.  A  passage  from  the  Life  of  Abbott  will  show 
with  what  weight  that  cause  pressed  upon  his  heart.  “I 
removed,”  says  Abbott,  “to  Lower  Penn’s  Neck  with  my 
family,  where  I  found  a  set  of  as  hardened  sinners  as 
were  out  of  hell.  I  preached  again  and  again,  and  all 
to  no  purpose.  Brother  Pedicord  and  brother  Metcalf 
came  to  my  house,  and  I  told  them  that  I  was  almost 


THE  WORK  AND  LABORERS  IN  1781. 


> 


205 


discouraged.  When  they  heard  it  they  were  so  dis¬ 
tressed  that  they  could  not  eat  breakfast,  but  retired  to 
their  room  where  they  remained  until  about  one  or  two 
o’clock.  When  they  came  down  stairs  brother  P.  said, 
‘Father  Abbott,  do  not  be  discouraged;  these  people 
will  yet  hunger  and  thirst  after  the  word  of  God,’  and 
appeared  cheerful.  In  the  evening  he  preached  to  the 
neighbors,  and  next  day  they  went  on  their  circuits.” 

While  Pedicord  was  in  New  Jersey,  a  desperado  and 
tory  of  the  name  of  Molliner,  who,  with  his  gang  of 
confederates,  had  committed  great  ravages  in  their  work 
of  plunder  along  the  Atlantic  counties,  was  arrested  and 
brought  to  justice  at  Burlington.  His  imprisonment 
lasted  but  six  weeks,  during  which  time  he  was  tried, 
convicted,  and  sentenced  to  die.  Though  so  desperate  a 
sinner,  Pedicord  and  his  colleague  visited  his  cell  in  con¬ 
nection  with  William  Budd,  a  local  preacher  from  New 
Mills,  for  the  purpose  of  bearing  to  him  salvation 
through  the  Crucified.  They  told  him  of  Jesus  and  his 
cross,  and  of  his  power  and  willingness  to  save  the  chief 
of  sinners.  He  heard  their  words.  He  looked  to  the 
Lamb  of  God.  He  flung  his  trembling  spirit,  so  deeply 
stained  with  guilt,  into  the  fountain  that  was  opened  to 
the  house  of  David  and  to  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem 
for  sin  and  for  uncleanness.  He  rose,  as  those  preachers 

testified,  a  regenerated,  saved  man. 

13 


206  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

On  the  day  of  his  execution,  thousands  of  persons,  it 
was  computed,  collected  from  all  parts  of  the  surround¬ 
ing  country  to  witness  the  tragical  event.  The  display 
of  military,  and  the  sounds  of  music  that  floated  mourn¬ 
fully  on  the  air,  heightened  the  impressiveness  and  solem¬ 
nity  of  the  scene.  The  condemned  man  in  company 
with  his  religious  advisers,  Pedicord,  Cromwell,  and 
Budd,  rode  in  the  wagon  which  contained  his  coffin,  to 
the  place  of  execution.  “  The  huge  procession  passed 
out  of  Burlington,  over  Ewling’s  bridge,  to  a  place 
called  ‘Gallows  Hill.’  The  wagon  halted  under  the 
fatal  tree,  and  the  soldiers  were  arranged  around  the  vi¬ 
cinity  in  a  square.  The  dense  mass  of  spectators 
pressed  closer  and  closer  to  the  object  on  which  all  eyes 
were  now  fixed.  Molliner  arose  and  gazed  upon  the 
crowd ;  his  countenance  seemed  changed ;  he  spoke  at 
some  length,  acknowledged  his  guilt,  and  begged  the 
people  to  pray  for  him ;  then,  closing  his  eyes,  he  sat 
down  and  appeared  to  be  engaged  in  an  agony  of  prayer. 

“  Rev.  Mr.  Pedicord,  standing  in  the  wagon  beside 
the  coffin,  gave  out  a  text,  and  preached  a  suitable  ser¬ 
mon,  which  affected  all  hearts  within  hearing  of  his  sweetly 
musical  voice,  whose  melting  tones  seldom  failed  to  draw 
tears  from  all  eyes.  The  people  wept  and  sobbed  while 
they  heard.  After  the  sermon  a  prayer  was  offered  by 
one  of  the  other  preachers.  On  standing  up  again, 


THE  WORK  AND  LABORERS  IN  1781.  207 

Molliner  requested  them  to  sing,  and  a  hymn  was  sung. 
At  the  close  Molliner  was  deeply  exercised,  clapping  his 
hands  exultingly,  and  exclaiming,  ‘  I’ve  found  Him  ! 
I’ve  found  Him  !  Now  I  am  ready.’  He  adjusted  the 
rope  to  his  neck,  took  leave  of  those  around,  who 
stepped  down  from  the  wagon,  and  then  said  again,  4  I 
am  ready;  drive  off!’  The  horse  started,  the  wagon 
passed  from  beneath  his  feet,  he  swung  round  a  few 
turns,  settled,  struggled  once  for  a  moment,  then  all  was 
still.  The  spirit  of  the  daring  refugee,  now  an  humble 
Christian,  was  in  the  presence  of  God.”* 

Mr.  Ware  gives  an  affecting  illustration  of  the  de¬ 
voutness  and  beauty  of  Pedicord’s  spirit,  which  is  as 
follows:  “Mr.  Pedicord  returned  again  to  our  village.  I 
hastened  to  see  him,  and  tell  him  all  that  was  in  my  heart 
He  shed  tears  over  me,  and  prayed.  I  was  dissolved  in 
tears.  He  prayed  again.  My  soul  was  filled  with  un¬ 
utterable  delight.  He  now  rejoiced  over  me  as  a  son — 
‘an  heir  of  God,  and  joint  heir  with  Christ.’”  Ware 
wrote  to  him  acknowledging  him  as  the  instrument  of 
his  salvation.  “  A  thousand  blessings  on  the  man  who 
brought  me  this  intelligence.  On  my  bended  knees  I 
owned  the  doctrine  true,  and  said,  It  was  enough — I  may 
be  happy — Heaven  may  be  mine,  since  Jesus  tasted 
death  for  all,  and  wills  them  to  be  saved !  But  I  am 

*  Eaybold’s  Methodism  in  West  Jersey. 


208  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

not  myself ;  my  hopes  and  fears  are  new.  Oh  !  may  I 
never  lose  this  tenderness  of  heart.  Yes,  my  friend,  I 
am  thy  debtor.  To  me  thou  hast  restored  my  Bible  and 
my  God.  And  shall  I  be  ungrateful  ?  No.  I  will  see 
thee  and  confess  the  whole.” 

As  Ware  was  about  entering  the  ministry,  Pedicord 
wrote  him  a  kind  letter.  Here  is  an  extract : 

“  Dear  Tommy, — Brother  Asbury  made  me  glad  when 
he  informed  me  you  had  consented  to  come  down  to  the 
Peninsula  in  the  character  of  a  licentiate,  to  spend  some 
time  on  the  Dover  circuit,  and  then  come  to  me.  You 
have  kept,  in  faithful  memory,  my  earnest  advice  to  study 
deeply  the  sacred  pages,  therein  to  learn  the  sum  of  good, 
Heaven  kindly,  though  conditionally,  wills  to  man.  This 
you  have  done,  and  it  has  eventuated  as  I  hoped;  you 
have  learned  that  He  who  claims  all  souls  as  His,  and 
wills  them  to  be  saved,  does  sometimes  from  the  common 
walks  of  life,  choose  men  who  have  learned  of  Him  to  be 
lowly  in  heart,  and  bids  them  go  and  invite  the  world  to 
the  great  supper.  The  Lord  is,  at  this  time,  carrying  on 
a  great  and  glorious  work,  chiefly  by  young  men  like  your¬ 
self.  Oh,  come  and  share  in  the  happy  toil,  and  in  the 
great  reward  !  Mark  me,  though  seven  winters  have  now 
passed  over  me,  and  much  of  the  way  dreary  enough, 
yet  God  has  been  with  me  and  kept  me  in  the  way  I  went, 
and  often  whispered,  ‘  Thou  art  mine,  and  all  I  have  is 


THE  WORK  AND  LABORERS  IN  1781. 


209 


thine.’  He  has,  moreover,  given  me  sons  and  daughters, 
too,  horn  not  of  the  flesh,  hut  of  God ;  and  who  can  es¬ 
timate  the  joy  I  have  in  one  destined,  I  hope,  to  fill  my 
place  in  the  itinerant  ranks  when  I  am  gone !  Who,  then, 
will  say  that  mine  was  not  a  happy  lot  ?  ’Tis  well  you 
have  made  haste ;  much  more  than  I  can  express  have  I 
wished  you  in  the  ranks  before  mine  eyes  have  closed  in 
death  and  on  all  below. 

“It  is  true,  in  becoming  an  itinerant  you  will  have  to 
sacrifice  all  means  of  acquiring  property,  all  domestic 
ease  and  happiness,  and  must  be  content  with  food  and 
raiment.  Nor  are  the  hardships  and  perils  less  appalling 
than  those  you  have  witnessed  in  our  war  for  independ¬ 
ence  ;  for  it  is  a  fact  known  to  you  already,  in  part,  that 
the  professing  world,  with  the  clergy  at  their  head,  are  in 
array  against  us.  But  thanks  be  to  God !  we  know  Him, 
who  both  died,  and  rose,  and  revived  that  he  might  be 
Lord  both  of  the  dead  and  living,  and  in  receiving  our 
commissions  have  felt  a  courage  commensurate  (may  I 
not  say?)  with  that  with  which  the  disciples  were  inspired 
when  Jesus  came  and  spake  unto  them,  saying,  ‘All  power 
is  given  unto  me  in  heaven  and  in  earth,  go  ye,’  &c.  &c. 

“  It  was  to  the  whole  bench  of  the  apostles  the  charge 
was  given,  so  they  understood  it,  hence  they  all  became 
itinerants ;  why,  then,  is  not  the  world  evangelized  ?  Are 
the  clergy  blameless  in  this  matter  ?  So  thought  not 


210  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

Wesley,  so  thinks  not  Asbury,  his  coadjutor.  The  clergy 
have  long  since  abandoned  this  apostolic  plan ;  they  have 
doubtless  deemed  it  more  than  could  be  expected  of  them 
therein  to  copy  the  apostolic  example. 

“When  Asbury  pressed  me  to  become  an  itinerant,  I 
said,  ‘  God  had  called  me  to  preach,  and  wo  be  unto  me 
if  I  preached  not,  but  I  had  not  conviction  that  he  had 
called  me  to  itinerate.’  ‘No  conviction,  my  son,’  said  he 
to  me  sternly,  ‘  that  you  should  follow  the  directions  of 
Him  who  commissioned  you  to  preach  ?  Has  the  charge 
given  to  the  disciples,  Go  and  evangelize  the  world,  been 
revoked?  Is  the  world  evangelized  ?’  He  said  no  more. 
I  looked  at  the  world,  it  was  not  evangelized.  I  looked 
at  the  clergy,  and  thought  of  the  rebut  received  from 
some  of  them  who  were  thought  the  most  pious,  when 
smitten  with  penitential  grief,  and  ardently  desirous  to 
know  what  I  must  do  to  be  saved,  and  thought  who  hath 
said,  ‘  The  hireling  careth  not  for  the  sheep,  because  he 
is  a  hireling.’ 

“  The  world  must  be  evangelized;  it  should  long  since 
have  been  so,  and  would  have  been  so,  had  all  who  pro¬ 
fessed  to  be  ministers  of  Christ  been  such  as  were  the  first 
gospel  preachers  and  professors ;  for  who  can  contend 
with  Him  who  is  Lord  of  lords,  and  King  of  kings,  when 
they  that  are  with  him  in  the  character  of  ministers  and 
members  are  called,  and  chosen,  and  faithful  ?  Here  the 


THE  WORK  AND  LABORERS  IN  1781. 


211 


drama  ends  not,  but  the  time  we  think  is  near,  even  at 
the  door.  Nothing  can  kill  the  itinerant  spirit  which 
Wesley  has  inspired.  It  has  lived  through  the  revolution¬ 
ary  war,  and  will  live  through  all  future  time.  Christen¬ 
dom  will  become  more  enlightened,  will  feel  a  divine  im¬ 
pulse,  and  a  way  will  be  cast  up,  on  which  itinerants  may 
swiftly  move,  and  in  sufficient  numbers  to  teach  all  na¬ 
tions  the  commands  of  God.” 

Pedicord  possessed,  in  an  uncommon  degree,  the  quali¬ 
ties  of  an  orator.  Physically,  he  was  a  noble  type  of 
manhood.  His  form  was  commanding,  his  countenance 
was  indicative  of  intelligence  and  sensibility,  and  his  voice 
was  like  the  thrilling,  melting  murmurs  of  the  harp.  In 
addition  to  this,  his  spirit  was  pervaded  by  a  depth  of 
tender  sympathy  that  flowed  out  in  his  words,  and  hence 
it  is  not  surprising  that  almost  immediately  after  he  be¬ 
gan  to  speak,  the  moistened  eyes  of  his  auditors  told 
how  resistless  was  his  power.  “  He  possessed,”  says 
Ware,  “  the  rare  talent  to  touch  and  move  his  audience 
at  once.  I  have  seen  the  tear  start  and  the  head  fall 
before  he  had  uttered  three  sentences,  which  were  gen¬ 
erally  sententious.  Nor  did  he  raise  expectations  to 
disappoint  them.  If  he  could  not  bind  his  audience 
with  chains,  he  could  draw  them  after  him  with  a 
silken  cord.  Never  was  a  man  more  tenderly  beloved 
in  our  part  of  the  country  than  he ;  and  if  the  decision 


212  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

devolved  on  me  I  should  say  there  was  none  like  Pedi- 
cord.  But  he  was  my  spiritual  father.” 

In  his  “  Heroes  of  Methodism,”  Mr.  Wakeley  has 
given  a  letter,  -addressed  by  Pedicord  to  a  young  lady, 
which  is  beautifully  illustrative  of  the  character  of  his 
mind  and  heart.  It  shows  him  to  have  possessed  a  mind 
clear  in  its  perceptions,  and  possessed  of  much  delicacy 
and  refinement,  and  a  heart  adorned  with  the  beauty  of 
meekness,  gentleness,  and  love.  As  it  is  probably,  with 
the  exception  of  that  already  given,  the  only  production 
of  his  pen  extant,  its  insertion  here  will  not,  it  is  hoped, 
be  considered  contrary  to  the  scope  of  the  present  Avork. 
This  letter,  so  sweet  and  beautiful  in  itself,  is,  in  conse¬ 
quence  of  its  having  been  written  by  Pedicord,  invested 
wTith  an  almost  hallowed  interest. 

“Virginia,  January  12th,  1783. 

“  Miss  Patty  : — Your  friendly  letter  came  safe  to 
hand  a  few  days  since.  I  have  read  it  again  and  again, 
and  was  so  happy  as  to  catch  the  tender  spirit  in  which 
it  was  written.  It  affords  matter  of  real  joy  even  to 
hear  from  my  dear  friends  ;  but  to  receive  a  letter  con¬ 
taining  an  account  of  their  spiritual  welfare  is  cause  of 
more  abundant  consolation.  You  are  pleased  to  thank 
me  for  my  former  letter,  and  also  express  your  approba¬ 
tion  of  the  thoughts  hinted  in  favor  of  early  piety.  I 


THE  WORK  AND  LABORERS  IN  1781.  213 

am  more  than  ever  persuaded  of  the  propriety  of  them, 
though  I  feel  myself  very  insufficient  to  give  instruction 
to  those  who  are  surrounded  with  every  hopeful  and  en¬ 
couraging  circumstance.  I  take  knowledge  from  your 
letter  that  you  entertain  low  thoughts  of  yourself.  Our 
souls  prosper  the  most  under  the  shade  of  the  cross  ;  and 
it  is  well  to  go  down  the  necessary  steps  into  the  valley 
of  humiliation.  When  praying,  as  in  the  dust,  our  de¬ 
votion  is  in  character,  hut,  in  the  mean  time,  let  us  re¬ 
member,  help  is  laid  upon  One  that  is  mighty.  1  Look 
unto  me,’  is  His  language ;  He  blesses  the  broken  in 
heart  and  comforts  the  contrite  spirit.  He  is  the 
strength  of  the  weak,  the  overflowing  fountain  of  all 
goodness,  who  delights  in  administering  suitable  comfort 
according  to  our  various  cases.  Let  faith  (which  is  the 
eye  of  the  soul)  momently  behold  a  reconciled  God ;  ever 
remembering  that  in  striving  to  believe,  and  in  the  exer¬ 
cise  of  faith,  it  is  obtained  and  increased :  the  se¬ 
cret,  inward,  powerful  effects  of  living  faith  are  almost 
a  mystery  to  those  who  feel  them.  Salvation  by  faith 
is  wdiat  the  Scripture  strongly  recommends.  It  is  true, 
God  is  the  author,  Christ  the  object,  and  the  heart  the 
subject ;  but,  notwithstanding  this,  it  has  pleased  our 
great  Author  to  bestow  this  precious  gift  in  proportion 
to  our  willingness  to  receive  and  improve  it.  Love,  also, 
is  the  glorious  spring  of  all  outward  and  inward  holi- 


214  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

ness.  Happy  for  us  when  we  feel  this  holy,  heavenly, 
active  principle  operating,  and  sweetly  attracting  our 
willing  hearts  into  all  the  graces  and  virtues  of  living 
religion.  Hope  !  oh,  blooming  hope  !  which  constantly 
eyes  the  future  promised  inheritance  !  Oh !  Patty,  let 
these  three  graces  be  in  lively  exercise  !  Indeed,  I  am 
at  a  loss  to  describe  the  many  blessings  that  flow  from  a 
conviction  of  our  being  interested  in  the  favor  of  the 
Lord.  Those  comforts  and  graces  do  not  naturally  be¬ 
long  to  man ;  it  is  fruit  that  grows  not  upon  nature’s 
tree.  It  follows  that  in  order  to  abound  in  them,  we 
must  eye  His  will,  who  is  the  author  and  giver  of  them ; 
which  no  doubt  calls  for  the  mighty  exertions  of  all  our 
ransomed  powers,  carefully  walking  in,  and  constantly 
looking  through  all  the  means  of  Divine  institution.  So 
shall  we  sail  as  upon  broad  waters,  and  our  feet  stand  in 
a  wealthy  place. 

“I  continue  a  son  of  affliction,  but  still  fill  up  my  ap¬ 
pointments.  Remember  me  affectionately  to  your  grand¬ 
mamma,  who  behaved  to  me  as  a  mother,  sister,  Chris¬ 
tian,  and  friend. 

“  The  blessed  God  bless  you  and  keep  you  blooming 
for  a  blissful  immortality.  Yours,  &c., 

“  Caleb  B.  Pedicord.” 


Pedicord  was  admitted  by  the  Conference  of  1777, 


THE  WORK  AND  LABORERS  IN  1781. 


215 


and  appointed  to  Frederick,  Md.  In  1778  his  appoint¬ 
ment  is  not  designated  in  the  minutes.  In  1779  he  was 
sent  to  Delaware,  in  connection  with  Asbury,  Garrett- 
son,  and  others.  In  1780  he  was  again  appointed  to 
Delaware  with  Joseph  Cromwell  as  preacher  in  charge. 
1781,  West  Jersey;  1782,  Sussex,  Ya. ;  1783,  Meck¬ 
lenburg,  Va. ;  1784,  Baltimore,  as  preacher  in  charge 
with  Thomas  S.  Chew  and  William  Gill.  Before  the 
next  Conference  he  ceased  to  labor  and  to  live. 

In  describing  Pedicord,  a  writer  says,  “  There  was 
one  for  whom  Asbury  looked  in  vain,  one  who  had  been 
his  companion  in  many  a  long  and  dreary  journey,  one 
whose  eloquent  voice  had  often  made  the  hearts  of  listen¬ 
ing  thousands 


‘  Thrill  as  if  an  angel  spoke, 

Or  Ariel’s  huger  touched  the  string.’ 

Pedicord,  the  gentle  spirited,  the  generous  minded,  the 
noble  souled,  the  silver  tongued  Pedicord  had  fallen,  had 
fallen  in  his  opening  glory  and  abundant  promise.  As¬ 
bury  looked  for  him  and  he  was  not.  The  grave  had 
closed  over  his  body,  and  his  spirit  had  passed  to  the 
land  where  only  spirits  so  refined,  so  sensitive,  so  ethereal 
as  his,  find  congenial  sympathy  and  rest.” 

His  is  the  first  obituary  sketch  given  in  the  minutes. 
It  is  exceedingly  brief,  but  very  expressive.  As  with  a 


216  MEMORIALS  OP  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

single  stroke  of  the  hand  of  a  master  artist  it  presents 
in  bold  relief  a  just  outline  of  his  beautiful  character. 
“  Caleb  B.  Pedicord , — a  man  of  sorrows;  and ,  like  his 
Master ,  acquainted  with  grief ;  but  a  man  dead  to  the 
world ,  and  much  devoted  to  Gf-od .”  That  is  all.  Is  it 
not  enough  ? 

An  original  character  was  Joseph  Cromwell,  but  a 
man  of  zeal,  and  power,  and  distinguished  success.  A 
son  of  thunder,  he  ranged  through  New  Jersey,  Dela¬ 
ware,  Maryland,  and  Virginia,  summoning  the  people  to 
repentance  on  pain  of  being  cast  into  the  inextinguish¬ 
able  flames  of  perdition.  Multitudes  heard  his  message 
and  hastened  their  escape  to  Calvary,  whither  he  uner¬ 
ringly  directed  them. 

His  superiority  over  most  of  his  cotemporaries  con¬ 
sisted  chiefly,  perhaps,  in  the  strength  of  his  natural  en¬ 
dowments,  his  resolute  and  vehement  earnestness,  and 
his  faithfulness  in  presenting  the  truth,  urging  it  home 
upon  the  consciences  of  his  hearers  with  a  practical  di¬ 
rectness  which  said,  “  Thou  art  the  man.”  There  was, 
too,  a  kind  of  magic  about  his  speech — a  something 
that  penetrated  and  thrilled  you,  while  it  left  a  deep  and 
vivid  impression  of  the  truth.  His  speech  and  his 
preaching  were  not  with  enticing  words  of  man’s  wis¬ 
dom,  but  in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  with  power. 

The  year  before  he  was  sent  to  New  Jersey,  Asbury 


THE  WORK  AND  LABORERS  IN  1781. 


217 


says  of  him,  “  I  thought  it  would  he  well  for  me  to  have 
a  person  with  me  always,  and  I  think  Cromwell  is  the 
man.  If  I  should  preach  a  systematic,  dry  sermon,  he 
would  pay  the  sinners  off.”  Another  of  his  cotempora¬ 
ries,  Rev.  T.  Ware,  says  he  preached  “with  an  authority 
few  could  withstand.  By  his  labors  thousands  of  all 
classes  and  conditions  in  society”  were  brought  to  God 
and  walked  worthy  of  their  professions. 

Asbury  speaks  of  a  love-feast  at  which  he  was  present 
in  which  Cromwell  spoke.  He  says,  “  His  words  went 
through  me  as  they  have  every  time  I  have  heard  him. 
He  is  the  only  man  I  have  heard  in  America  with  whose 
speaking  I  am  never  tired ;  I  always  admire  his  unaf¬ 
fected  simplicity ;  he  is  a  prodigy — a  man  that  cannot 
write  or  read  well,  yet,  according  to  what  I  have  heard, 
he  is  much  like  the  English  John  Brown,  or  the  Irish 
John  Smith,  or  Beveridge’s  shepherd’s  boy;  I  fear  he 
will  not  stand  or  live  long.  The  power  of  God  attends 
him  more  or  less  in  every  place.  He  hardly  ever  opens 
his  mouth  in  vain ;  some  are  generally  cut  to  the  heart, 
yet  he  himself  is  in  the  fire  of  temptation  daily.  Lord 
keep  him  every  moment !” 

But  temptation,  alas !  proved  too  powerful  for  him. 
Had  the  fears  concerning  his  life,  which  Asbury  ex¬ 
pressed  in  the  above  emphatic  tribute  to  his  power  and 
usefulness  been  early  realized,  his'grave  would  have  been 


218  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

bedewed  with  the  tears  of  thousands  saved  by  his  min¬ 
istry,  whose  grief  would  not  have  been  embittered  by 
the  gloom  which  lingered  over  the  scene  of  his  depart¬ 
ure.  Had  ho  then  fallen  in  the  midst  of  his  labors  and 
his  triumphs,  his  untarnished  name,  crowned  with  imper¬ 
ishable  honors,  would  have  gone  down  the  generations  of 
Methodism  among  those  of  its  noblest  sons  and  heroes. 
But  he  lived  to  furnish  Methodism  and  the  world  with 
another  mournful  example  of  the  fact  that  the  good  and 
the  mighty  may  leap  from  their  commanding  altitude 
into  depths  of  guilt  and  sorrow.  And  yet  who  can  tell 
but  his  majestic  spirit  which  unhappily  faltered  in  its 
struggle  with  the  flesh,  may,  through  the  abounding 
grace  he  had  so  successfully  proclaimed  to  others,  haye 
risen  from  the  scene  of  his  humiliation  to  a  throne  of 
celestial  glory  ?  But  of  this  we  can  only  tremblingly 
hope.  No  visible  light,  alas  !  illumined  his  final  hour. 

After  spending  about  sixteen  years  in  the  work,  dur¬ 
ing  which  time  he  filled  important  appointments,  includ¬ 
ing  the  cities  of  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore,  and  that 
of  Presiding  Elder,  in  1793  he  located.  In  a  little 
more  than  eleven  years  after  his  location,  Asbury  re¬ 
cords  his  mournful  end  as  follows :  “  After  a  long  ab¬ 
sence  I  came  once  more  to  John  Jacobs’.  From  him  I 
heard  the  awful  account  of  the  awful  end  of  Joseph 
Cromwell.  He  had  walked  backward,  according  to  his 


HE  WORK  AND  LABORERS  IN  1781. 


219 


own  account ;  three  clays  he  lost  in  drunkenness  ;  three 
days  he  lay  sick  in  darkness— no  manifestations  of  God 
to  his  soul;  and  thus  he  died  !  We  can  only  hope  that 
God  had  mercy  on  him.  Compare  this  with  what  I  have 
recorded  of  his  labors  and  his  faithfulness  in  another 
part  of  my  Journal.  Oh  !  my  soul,  be  warned  !  Bro¬ 
ther  Jacobs  preached  his  funeral  sermon,  and  gave  a 
brief  sketch  of  his  life,  his  fall,  and  his  death.  His 
text  was,  1  Tell  it  not  in  Gath,  publish  it  not  in  the 
streets  of  Askelon  how  appropriate  the  choice  !” 

James  0.  Cromwell,  a  brother  of  Joseph,  was  ad¬ 
mitted  on  trial  at  the  Conference  of  1780,  and  appointed 
to  Sussex,  Md.  In  1781  he  was  sent  as  preacher  in 
charge  to  East  Jersey.  In  1782  we  find  him  on  the 
Fluvanna  circuit,  Va.  This  was  a  hard  field  of  labor — 
the  rides  were  long,  and  a  large  portion  of  the  circuit 
was  very  mountainous.  The  opportunities  for  usefulness 
were  not  flattering,  yet  some  additions  were  made  to  the 
societies.  Cromwell  labored  hard  and  diligently  in  this 
rugged  and  unpromising  field,  but  was  frecpiently  sub¬ 
jected  to  discouragement,  and  even  dejection.  In  1783 
he  was  sent  to  Pittsylvania,  Va. ;  in  1784  to  Kent,  Md. 
At  the  Christmas  Conference,  1784,  ho  was  ordained 
elder,  and  appointed  with  Freeborn  Garrettson  to  Nova 
Scotia.  This  was  a  trying  field,  but  he  labored  in  it 
with  zeal  and  success.  In  1786  he  and  Garrettson  were 


220  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

“elders”  in  Nova  Scotia.  In  1787  lie  and  two  others 
were  elders  over  a  district  that  included  a  portion  of  the 
State  of  Maryland.  From  1788  to  1791,  three  years, 
he  was  Presiding  Elder  in  New  Jersey,  his  district  in¬ 
cluding  the  entire  State.  In  1792  he  was  appointed  to 
Bethel  circuit,  N.  J.  In  1793  he  located.  It  is  said 
that  he  was  a  devout  and  laborious  man,  and  a  useful  and 
powerful  preacher. 

Henry  Metcalf  was  admitted  at  the  Conference  of 
1781,  and  appointed  to  East  Jersey.  In  1782  he  was 
sent  to  Sussex,  Ya.  ;  in  1783  to  Pasquetank,  N  C.  At 
the  Conference  of  1784  the  question  is  asked  for  the 
first  time,  Who  have  died  this  year?  And  the  answer  is, 
William  Wright  and  Henry  Metcalf ;  but  no  notice  is 
given  of  them  in  the  minutes  except  the  bare  mention  of 
their  names.  Metcalf  was  considered  an  excellent  and 
deeply  devoted  man,  but  he  was  a  man  of  a  sorrowful 
spirit  and  suffered  under  mental  depression.  With  him 
the  habit  of  devotion  appeared  to  be  a  ruling  passion, 
strong  in  death.  When  near  his  end,  it  is  said,  he  rose 
from  his  bed,  and  bowed  upon  his  knees,  and  while  in 
that  devout  attitude  his  spirit  ascended  to  God.* 

*  Lee’s  Hist,  of  Methodism,  and  Asbury’s  Journal. 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  WORK  IN  1782. 


221 


CHAPTER  X. 

PROGRESS  OF  THE  WORK  IN  1782. 

The  Conference  met  at  Ellis’s  preaching  house,  Va., 
on  the  17th  of  April,  1782.  Asbury  says,  “We  amica¬ 
bly  settled  our  business  and  closed  our  Conference.  *  * 
We  had  a  love-feast — the  power  of  God  was  manifested 
in  a  most  extraordinary  manner — preachers  and  people 
wept,  believed,  loved,  and  obeyed.”  The  minutes  say 
the  Conference  adjourned  to  Baltimore  the  21st  of  May. 
At  this  Conference  East  Jersey  reported  282  members, 
and  West  Jersey  375.  This  was  again  for  the  State 
of  145  members  during  the  ecclesiastical  year  1781. 

The  appointments  in  New  Jersey  this  year  were,  East 

Jersey,  John  Tunnell,  Joseph  Everett.  West  Jersey, 

Joshua  Dudley,  Richard  Ivy.  The  work  continued  to 

advance  during  the  year,  so  that  an  increase  of  nearly 

four  hundred  (371)  was  realized  in  the  membership.  On 

the  16th  of  September  Asbury  writes,  “  I  think  God 

will  do  great  things  in  the  Jerseys:  the  prospect  is 
14 


222  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

pleasing  East  and  West.”  He  visited  Burlington  and 
Trenton  this  year.  The  latter  town  he  found  “  in  a 
great  bustle  with  the  Court,  and  the  French  troops.” 
He  preached  to  a  large  and  serious  congregation  on  the 
Syrophoenician  woman.  “Ah!  poor  gospel-hardened 
Trenton !”  he  exclaims.  “  But  a  few  have  been  converted 
of  late.”  While  making  his  tour  in  the  State  he  was 
annoyed  by  persons  who  demanded  his  pass.  In  Ger¬ 
mantown  a  gentleman  of  the  committee  examined  his, 
and  those  of  the  preachers  stationed  on  the  circuit. 
“  He  treated  us  with  great  politeness,”  he  says,  “  and 
told  us  what  the  law  required :  brother  Tunnell’s  pass 
was  pronounced  valid ;  but  mine  was  not,  because  I  had 
not  the  signature  of  the  proper  authorities  in  the  coun¬ 
ties  through  which  I  had  traveled.  I  pleaded  ignorance 
of  the  necessity  of  this.  Here  appeared  to  be  the  se¬ 
cret — the  mob  had  been  after  brother  Everett  with 
clubs,  and  it  was  supposed,  under  the  connivance  of  their 
superiors ;  they  found,  however,  that  he  was  qualified 
according  to  law :  the  work  of  God  prospers,  and,  it  is 
possible,  this  is  the  real  cause  of  offence  to  unfriendly 
ministers.”  He  speaks  of  preaching  on  Sabbath  the 
8th  of  September  to  a  very  gay  congregation  of  four  or 
five  hundred  persons,  and  says,  “  The  priests  of  all  de¬ 
nominations,  Dutch  and  English,  appear  to  be  much 
alarmed  at  our  success ;  some  oppose  openly,  others  more 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  WORK  IN  1782. 


223 


secretly ;  the  Episcopal  ministers  are  the  most  quiet ; 
and  some  of  these  are  friendly.” 

Tunnell  and  Everett  did  not  remain  on  the  circuit 
only  until  November,  when  they  were  sent  to  the  Phila¬ 
delphia  circuit.  Everett,  in  speaking  of  his  appointment 
to  East  Jersey,  says:  “I  was  appointed  to  East  Jersey 
with  that  man  of  God,  John  Tunnell,  whom  I  loved  as 
another  self.  We  labored  in  sweet  fellowship  until  No¬ 
vember  ;  the  Lord  also  owned  his  word  through  my  weak 
instrumentality.”*  Woolman  Hickson,  George  Mair, 
and  Richard  Ivy  appear  to  have  labored  in  East  Jersey 
the  latter  part  of  this  year. 

About  this  year  a  society  was  formed  by  Benjamin 
Abbott,  in  Lower  Penn’s  Neck,  in  the  West  Jersey  cir¬ 
cuit.  The  class  met  in  an  old  log-house,  belonging  to 
an  aged  man  by  the  name  of  Swanson,  who  was  the 
leader.  Some  of  the  first  members  were  Wm.  Bilder- 
back  and  wife,  Catharine  Casper,  Elizabeth  Dixon,  and 
Sarah  Bright.  The  manner  in  which  Methodism  was  in¬ 
troduced  there  can  be  best  given  in  Abbott’s  own  lan¬ 
guage.  He  says,  “  One  day  as  I  was  preaching,  I.  IIol- 
laday  of  Lower  Penn’s  Neck,  stopped  to  hear,  and  the 
W'ord  reached  his  heart ;  after  sermon,  he  asked  me  if  I 
would  come  and  preach  at  his  house :  I  asked  him  if  I 
should  give  it  out  for  the  circuit  preacher ;  he  said,  Yes.  I 

*  Arminian  Magazine,  (American,)  vol.  ii.,  1790. 


224  MEMORIALS  OP  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

did  so,  and  after  bidding  the  family  farewell,  an  officer  of 
the  army  being  present,  I  took  him  by  the  hand,  and 
said,  ‘  God  out  of  Christ  is  a  consuming  fire, — farewell !’ 
and  so  we  parted.  God  pursued  him  from  the  very  door, 
and  gave  him  no  rest ;  before  twelve  o’clock  that  night  he 
was  out  of  bed  on  the  floor  at  prayer.  In  about  two 
months  his  soul  was  set  at  liberty,  and  he  is  a  member 
of  our  Church  at  the  present  period. 

“  The  day  appointed  at  Mr.  Holladay’s,  the  traveling 
preacher  came,  and  a  great  concourse  attended,  to  whom 
he  preached ;  some  seemed  awakened,  some  disputed, 
and  some  were  in  great  consternation.  When  he  con¬ 
cluded  he  asked  if  he  should  give  out  preaching  there 
again.  Mr.  H.  replied  he  might.  At  the  time  ap¬ 
pointed  abundance  of  people  attended,  to  whom  brother 
Ivy  preached  with  great  power,  being  full  of  faith  and 
the  Holy  Ghost.  Many  of  the  people  wept,  and  it  was 
a  good  season.  By  this  time  there  were  many  doors 
opened.  One  cried,  Preach  at  my  house ;  and  another, 
Preach  at  my  house,  &c.  The  next  appointment  was 
made  at  J.  D.’s,  for  brother  Dudley:  he  came  and 
preached  with  power.  After  meeting  I  told  them  that 
that  day  week  I  would  declare  to  them,  ‘  Even  the  mys¬ 
tery  which  hath  been  hid  from  ages  and  from  genera- 
tions,  but  now  is  made  manifest  to  his  saints,  to  whom 
God  would  make  known  what  is  the  riches  of  the  glory 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  WORK  IN  1782. 


225 


of  this  mystery,  among  the  Gentiles ;  which  is  Christ  in 
you  the  hope  of  glory,  whom  we  preach,  warning  every 
man,  and  teaching  every  man  in  all  wisdom,  that  we  may 
present  every  man  perfect  in  Christ  Jesus, — Whereunto 
I  also  labor,  striving  according  to  His  working,  which 
worketh  in  me  mightily.’  Col.  i.  26-29.  The  people 
concluded  that  I  was  going  to  prophesy,  and  would  tell 
how  the  war  would  terminate  ;  this  brought  abundance 
together.  I  preached,  and  God  attended  the  worn  with 
power.  I  had  not  spoken  long  before  a  professing  Qua¬ 
ker  said  it  was  a  mystery  to  him ;  but  before  I  con¬ 
cluded,  himself,  his  wife,  son,  and  daughter  were  all 
struck  under  conviction,  and  never  rested  until  they  all 
found  rest  to  their  souls,  and  joined  the  society.  About 
six  months  after,  the  son  died  in  a  triumph  of  faith ;  the 
father  was  taken  ill  at  the  funeral,  and  never  went  out 
of  his  house  again  until  carried  to  his  grave.  He  de¬ 
parted  this  life  praising  God  in  a  transport  of  joy.  By 
this  time  there  was  a  general  alarm  spread  through  the 
neighborhood.  We  had  prayer  meetings  two  or  three 
times  a  week,  and  at  almost  every  meeting  some  were 
either  convinced  or  converted.  One  old  woman,  to  whose 
soul  the  Lord  had  spoken  peace,  clapped  her  hands,  and 
began  to  praise  the  creature  instead  of  the  Creator.  I 
stepped  to  her  and  said,  I  have  done  nothing  for  you ;  if 
there  be  any  good,  it  is  the  Lord  that  has  done  it,  and 


226  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

therefore  praise  God.  ‘  Oh,’  said  she,  ‘hut  you  are  a  dear 
good  creature  for  all !’  I  turned  avray  and  went  among 
the  people.  At  this  meeting  we  had  the  shout  and 
power  of  Israel’s  God  in  the  camp :  prayer  was  kept  up 
until  near  midnight. 

“  Next  morning  a  young  man  came  to  my  house  to 
know  what  he  must  do  to  he  saved.  I  applied  the  prom¬ 
ises  of  the  gospel,  and  then  went  to  prayer,  and  after 
me  my  wife,  and  then  my  daughter  Martha ;  and  while 
supplicating  the  throne  of  grace  on  his  behalf,  the  Lord, 
in  his  infinite  goodness,  spoke  peace  to  his  soul ;  and  we 
were  all  made  partakers  of  the  blessing.  He  joined  the 
society,  lived  several  years,  and  died  clapping  his  hands, 
and  shouting,  ‘  Glory  to  God !  I  am  going  home !’ 
That  moment  his  hands  ceased  clapping,  he  died. 

“We  had  now  about  twenty-two  or  three  in  society; 
but  persecution  soon  arose,  and  the  devil  stirred  up  one 
J.  N.,  a  professor  of  religion  among  the  Presbyterians, 
who  at  first  appeared  very  friendly,  and  was  active  in 
bringing  us  into  the  neighborhood ;  but  soon  after,  he 
became  an  instrument  in  the  hand  of  the  devil  to  oppose 
and  lay  waste  the  truth,  and  did  much  hurt  to  the  cause 
of  God,  and  all  under  the  cloak  of  religion.  He  went 
among  our  young  converts,  and  told  them  that  God  had 
revealed  it  to  him  that  the  Spirit  which  they  professed 
to  receive  at  their  conversions  was  of  the  devil,  and  not 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  WORK  IN  1782.  227 

the  Spirit  of  Christ.  But,  glory  to  God !  it  was  not  in 
the  power  of  men  or  devils  to  extinguish  the  Divine  flame, 
although  they  cast  a  cloud  on  many  minds,  and  turned 
some  out  of  the  way. 

“  The  height  of  my  harvest  being  on  our  meeting  day, 
when  meeting  time  came  I  told  my  reapers  that  they 
must  all  go  to  meeting,  and  that  I  would  pay  them  their 
wages  as  though  they  were  at  work.  We  all  went,  and 
God  wrought  powerfully;  several  fell  to  the  floor  and 
two  found  peace ;  it  was  a  great  day  to  many.  After 
meeting  we  returned  to  our  work  again. 

“  I  continued  for  about  two  months  to  preach  under 
the  trees,  for  the  house  would  not  contain  the  people. 
We  seldom  had  a  meeting  during  that  period  but  that 
some  were  either  convinced,  converted,  or  sanctified. 

“  I  now  thought  it  might  be  expedient  to  make  an  at¬ 
tempt  toward  building  a  meeting-house.  A  subscription 
was  drawn  for  that  purpose,  but  not  being  able  to  obtain 
a  suitable  piece  of  ground  to  build  on,  as  those  who  had 
such  refused  to  sell,  it  fell  through  for  nearly  four  years, 
and  we  continued  our  meetings  as  before. 

“  One  day  while  I  was  speaking,  the  power  of  the 
Lord  laid  hold  on  a  Quaker  woman,  and  as  she  was  about 
to  escape,  she  fell  on  her  hands  and  knees.  Some  of 
her  friends  helped  her  up,  got  her  into  a  wagon  and  car¬ 
ried  her  off.  I  was  afterward  informed  that  it  took  them 


228  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

two  weeks  to  kill  her  convictions.  The  work  of  the 
Lord  went  on  among  the  people,  and  I  continued  to  im¬ 
press  the  necessity  of  sanctification  upon  believers.  We 
had,  at  that  time,  twelve  children  who  were  converted  to 
God.” 

While  Abbott  resided  in  Penn’s  Neck,  two  wicked  men 
resolved  that  should  he  attempt  to  preach  at  a  certain 
place  again  they  would  kill  him.  The  friends  besought 
him  not  to  run  the  hazard  of  doing  so,  hut  he  replied, 
“I  fear  them  not,”  and  proceeded  in  his  undertaking. 
“  The  two  men  came  to  the  door  of  the  house  with  heavy 
clubs  in  their  hands.  When  Abbott  saw  them  he  called 
aloud  on  the  Lord  to  ‘strike  those  daring  sinners.’ 
Both  became  alarmed  and  turned  and  ran ;  one  fell 
down ;  but,  by  the  assistance  of  their  cronies,  both  got 
away,  so  well  frightened  that  they  never  came  to  kill 
Abbott  again.”* 

One  day  Abbott  went  to  a  neighbor’s  (Tobias  Cas¬ 
per’s),  “and  told  the  family  that  all  his  children  had  em¬ 
braced  religion  except  his  son  Elisha  ;  he  had  been  pray¬ 
ing  for  him,  and  he  believed  the  Lord  would  convert  him 
or  kill  him !  The  next  day  the  family  heard  a  great 
and  strange  noise,  just  over  the  Branch,  which  separated 
the  two  farms.  Some  of  the  family  thought  the  British 

*  Methodism  in  West  Jersey.  This,  and  the  remaining  facts  of 
this  chapter  are  not  given  in  Abbott’s  Life. 


PROGRESS  OE  THE  WORK  IN  1782.  229 

had  come  on  shore  and  were  about  to  kill  the  people  over 
on  that  side ;  but  Mrs.  Casper  went  to  the  door,  and 
hearing  the  sounds,  said,  1  That  is  the  noise  of  shouting ; 
it  is  Elisha  Abbott ;  he  is  at  work  along  the  Branch.’ 
She  went  over  to  see,  and  there  found  that  the  Lord  had 
indeed  converted  Elisha,  all  alone,  in  the  swamp  or 
woods.  Mrs.  Casper  found  the  young  man  leaping, 
shouting,  and  praising  God.  His  father  soon  came  also ; 
and  it  was  such  a  time  as  when  the  fatted  calf  was  killed 
to  celebrate  the  prodigal’s  return. 

“  The  husband  of  Catharine  Casper,  the  woman 
named,  was  very  much  opposed  to  the  Methodists.  He 
hated  this  new  sect,  which  was  everywhere  spoken 
against.  He  was  violently  opposed  to  his  wife  going  to 
meetings ;  but  she  was  faithful ;  taking  up  the  cross 
daily,  and  never  faltering  in  her  duty.  One  Sabbath 
day,  while  she  was  gone  to  Methodist  meeting,  her  hus¬ 
band,  Tobias  Casper,  kindled  a  fire  in  the  oven.  One 
of  his  neighbors,  Azariah  Dixon,  came  to  the  house,  and 
seeing  the  fire  blazing  from  the  great  mouth  of  the  oven, 
asked,  in  amazement,  what  Casper  was  about — what  he 
was  going  to  do  with  the  oven.  He  replied  that  ‘  he 
wanted  to  heat  it  nine  times  hotter  than  it  had  ever  been, 
and  he  intended  to  burn  his  wife  in  it  as  soon  as  she 
came  from  meeting.’  Casper  kept  up  the  fire  until  his 
wife  returned.  When  she  saw  it,  and  inquired  what  he 


230  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

was  going  to  do  with  the  oven,  he  said,  ‘  To  burn  you.’ 
‘Well,  if  you  have  more  power  than  the  Master,  whom 
I  serve,  has  to  keep  me  out,  I  will  go  in  it.’  He,  no 
doubt,  expected  violent  opposition,  and  the  offer  to  go 
into  the  fire  confounded  him.  He  looked  at  her  a  while 
and  then  said,  ‘Well,  you  are  a  fool,’  and  walked  off; 
and  there  the  affair  ended. 

“  During  the  first  revival  in  Penn’s  Neck  under  the 
preaching  of  Benjamin  Abbott,  a  female  slave,  by  the 
name  of  Phillis,  was  converted.  She  belonged  to  a 
wealthy  lady  of  the  place,  Mrs.  Miles ;  and  the  lady, 
displeased  with  her  conversion,  made  the  service  of  her 
black  slave  harder  than  ever,  ‘  because  she  had  become  a 
Methodist.’  But  Phillis  was  faithful,  and  used  to  go  to 
the  barn  to  pray.  At  one  time  her  mistress  took  the 
cowhide  and  went  to  the  barn  after  her  servant.  Hear¬ 
ing  a  noise,  she  paused ;  and  listening,  distinctly  heard 
the  slave  praying  to  the  Lord,  and  supplicating  for  mercy 
for  her  hard-hearted  mistress.  Conviction  seized  the 
lady’s  heart ;  and  she  exclaimed,  ‘  Can  it  be  possible  that 
my  slave  thinks  more  of  me  and  my  soul’s  salvation 
than  I  do  myself?’  She  returned  to  the  house  leaving 
poor  Phillis  at  prayer  ;  and,  retiring  to  her  chamber,  fell 
upon  her  knees  and  prayed  aloud  for  mercy.  Phillis 
heard  the  cry  when  she  came  in,  and  in  a  short  time  the 
Lord  converted  the  lady.  The  overjoyed  slave  ran  off 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  WORK  IN  1782. 


231 


to  Mrs.  Casper,  and  told  her.  She  came  over,  and 
found  Mrs.  Miles  happy  in  God,  praising  him  for  what 
he  had  done  in  answer  to  the  prayers  of  poor  Phillis. 
At  the  death  of  Mrs.  Miles,  she  left  Phillis  a  house,  and 
a  lot  of  four  acres  of  land,  which,  with  her  freedom , 
enabled  her  to  live  comfortably  during  her  life.  She 
continued  faithful,  died  happy,  and  is,  no  doubt,  in  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  with  her  mistress.”* 

*  Raybold’s  Methodism  in  West  Jersey. 


232  MEMORIALS  OE  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

METHODISM  IN  SALEM. 

In  giving  sketches  of  local  Churches  we  cannot  well 
be  confined  to  the  chronological  method,  which  we  en¬ 
deavor  to  preserve,  as  far  as  practicable,  in  our  narrative. 
To  gain  a  clear  and  just  idea  of  the  establishment  of 
Methodism  in  any  neighborhood  or  town,  it  is  necessary 
to  group  together  the  events  of  several  years,  so  that 
they  may  be  seen  in  their  appropriate  relation  to  each 
other.  On  this  principle  we  introduce  our  sketch  of 
early  Methodism  in  Salem  at  this  period  in  our  narra¬ 
tive,  (1782,)  which  was  about  the  time  the  first  Method¬ 
ist  society  was  formed  in  that  town. 

As  Benjamin  Abbott  was  the  most  distinguished  hero 
of  Methodism  in  Salem  county,  it  will  not  be  improper 
here  to  notice  some  of  the  facts  of  his  personal  history 
which  are  not  given  in  his  Memoirs. 

We  have  elsewhere  remarked  that  though  we  had  no 
definite  proof  of  the  fact,  yet  it  was  our  opinion  that 


METHODISM  IN  SALEM. 


233 


lie  lived,  at  the  time  of  his  conversion,  in  the  township 
of  Pittsgrove,  and  that  the  class  which  was  formed  in 
his  neighborhood,  and  of  which  he  was  appointed  the 
leader,  must  have  been  the  nucleus  of  either  the  Broad 
Neck,  or  Murphy’s,  since  called  Friendship,  Church. 
We  have  since  learned  that  this  opinion  is  in  accordance 
with  the  facts  in  the  case. 

“At  the  time  of  his  conversion,  [1772,]  he  lived  in 
the  township  of  Pittsgrove,  and  labored  for  one  Benja¬ 
min  Vanmeter,  who  employed  him  solely  on  account  of 
his  muscular  strength  ;  for  otherwise  he  was  very  objec¬ 
tionable,  being  intemperate,  and  when  so  very  quarrel¬ 
some.  In  the  same  neighborhood  there  lived  one  John 
Murphy,  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  a  man 
of  sterling  sense  and  extensive  reading,  whose  house  ap¬ 
pears  to  have  been  a  home  for  the  Methodist  itinerants, 
and  among  the  first  preaching  places  in  the  county. 
After  a  time  he  became  a  member  of  the  society,  quite 
contrary  to  the  wishes  of  his  former  friends,  so  much  so 
that  they  cited  him  before  the  session,  and  wished  to 
know  why  he  could  not  be  a  Presbyterian.  He  replied, 

‘  that  he  never  could  believe  that  God  had  ordained  man 
to  sin,  and  then  damned  him  for  doing  what  he  could  not 
help.’  Being  displeased  at  this,  they  commanded  si¬ 
lence  and  dismissed  him.  At  the  house  of  John  Murphy 
was  formed  the  first  Methodist  society  in  this  county, 


234  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

and,  perhaps,  in  all  Jersey  west  of  Pemberton.  Here 
for  several  years  the  circuit  preachers  preached,  admin¬ 
istered  the  ordinances,  held  love-feasts,  &c.,  until  the  so¬ 
ciety  had  increased  so  much  that  they  formed  the  pur¬ 
pose  to  build,  which  resulted  in  the  erection  of  a  log 
meeting-house.  On  the  same  site  there  was  erected, 
about  ten  years  since,  a  good,  substantial  brick  building, 
and  is  called  on  the  Salem  circuit  plan,  Frietidship. 
Benjamin  Abbott  was,  no  doubt,  one  of  the  first  members 
of  this  society,  as  John  Murphy  was  one  of  his  neigh¬ 
bors  ;  and  it  was  returning  from  a  visit  to  J.  Murphy’s 
that  Mr.  Abbott’s  wife  was  converted.” 

The  above  is  the  statement  which  Rev.  Jefferson 
Lewis  wrote  and  published  twenty  years  ago.  He  ob¬ 
tained  his  information,  no  doubt,  from  authentic  sources, 
and  hence  his  testimony  is  to  be  believed.  It  agrees 
precisely  with  the  opinion  given  on  a  previous  page  be¬ 
fore  the  writer  knew  that  there  was  any  such  corrobora¬ 
tive  testimony  in  existence.  Mr.  Lewis,  who  took  the 
pains  to  investigate  the  subject  at  that  time,  says  that 
Abbott,  “no  doubt,  was  nearly  the  first  Methodist  in 
Salem  County.” 

The  third  society  that  was  formed  in  the  county, 
was,  it  is  understood,  at  Quinton’s  Bridge,  about  three 
miles  from  Salem.  It  was  formed  about  1781  or  1782, 
probably  as  early  as  1781.  Abbott  preached  there  at 


I 


METHODISM  IN  SALEM.  235 

the  house  of  Benjamin  Weatherby,  and  soon  formed  a 
class,  among  the  members  of  which  were  Henry  Ffirth 
and  John  McClaskey.  The  latter  became  a  distinguished 
preacher,  and  filled  several  important  appointments,  in¬ 
cluding  the  cities  of  New  York,  Philadelphia,  and  Balti¬ 
more,  and  also  that  of  Presiding  Elder.  The  former 
was  a  convert  from  Quakerism,  and  brother  to  John 
Ffirth,  the  compiler  of  Abbott’s  Memoir.  He  was  in¬ 
strumental  in  the  erection  of  the  first  Methodist  Church 
edifice  in  the  town  of  Salem. 

Bev.  John  Lednum,  who  was  stationed  in  Salem  in  the 
year  1826,  thirty  years  after  the  occurrence,  and  who, 
therefore,  had  a  good  opportunity  to  learn  the  facts, 
says  that  Mr.  Weatherby  was  “a  zealous  laborer  in  the 
cause  of  Methodism,  and  afterward  fell  away.”  He 
thinks  that  he  was  the  person  Mr.  Abbott  publicly  ad¬ 
dressed  at  the  funeral  of  Mrs.  Paul,  in  Salem,  a  short 
time  before  bis  death,  in  which  address  “he  called  to 
mind  the  happy  hours  that  he  had  spent  under  his  roof ; 
how  much  he  (Mr.  W.)  had  done  for  the  cause  of  God  ; 
and  how  often  they  had  rejoiced  together,  as  fellow-la¬ 
borers  in  Christ  Jesus;  and  then  warned  him,  in  the 
most  solemn  manner,  of  his  impending  danger,  in  the 
love  and  fear  of  God,  until  tears  flowed,  his  strength 
failed,  and  he  was  unable  to  speak  any  longer.”  Though 
Mr.  W.  appeared  angry,  yet  the  word  produced  its  in- 


236  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

tended  effect ;  and,  after  Mr.  Abbott’s  death,  he  rose 
in  a  love-feast  and  declared  that  God  had  healed  his 
backslidings,  and  that  Mr.  Abbott  was  an  instrument  in 
the  Divine  hand  in  his  restoration.* 

“Whether  the  Penn’s  Neck,”  says  Mr.  Lewis,  in  the 
sketch  from  which  we  have  already  quoted, — “whether 
the  Penn’s  Neck  or  Salem  society  has  the  precedence,  in 
point  of  time,  is  difficult  to  determine.  My  own  opinion, 
however,  founded  on  circumstances,  is,  that  they  were 
formed  nearly  at  the  same  time.” 

Methodism  was  introduced  into  Salem  about  the  year 
1774.  Daniel  Puff,  who  was  appointed  that  year  to 
Chester  circuit,  and  who,  as  we  have  before  seen,  ex¬ 
changed  for  a  time  with  William  Watters,  who  was  on 
the  Trenton  circuit,  visited  the  town  of  Salem  and 
preached  in  the  Court-house.  Thomas  Ware,  who  was 
then  a  youth  about  fifteen  years  of  age,  was  present  and 
heard  the  sermon.  He  said  when  Mr.  Ruff  entered  the 
town  he  walked  into  the  porch  of  the  tavern,  which  was 
then  kept  by  an  uncle  of  Mr.  Ware,  and  with  whom  the 
latter  then  lived,  “and  sat  down  until  the  bell  rang, 
when  he  repaired  to  the  house,  and  opened  the  exercises 
by  singing  the  hymn  beginning, 

‘  Fountain  of  life  to  all  below, 

Let  thy  salvation  roll.’” 


*  See  Life  of  Abbott,  pp.  270-71. 


METHODISM  IN  SALEM. 


I 


Sixty-five  years  after  the  occurrence  of  this  event  Mr. 
Ware  retained  a  distinct  recollection  of  these  words. 
He  also  remembered  having  heard  Abbott  preach  about 
this  time.  The  latter,  undoubtedly,  preached  in  Salem 
about  the  same  period  as  Ruff. 

One  interesting  incident  connected  with  Abbott’s  min¬ 
istry  in  Salem  is  not  given  in  his  Life.  He  resided  at 
the  time,  in  Mannington,  the  township  adjoining  Salem, 
to  which  place  he  removed  about  two  or  three  years  after 
his  conversion.  He  went  into  Salem  with  a  load  of  wood. 
So  far  as  his  appearance  was  concerned,  he  presented 
rather  a  sorry  figure.  He  wore  an  old  tattered  great¬ 
coat,  girded  round  the  waist  with  a  rope.  “Now,”  said 
the  lawyers,  as  he  advanced  up  the  street,  “  here  is  old 
Abbott,  let  us  have  some  fun,  he’ll  preach  for  us  if  we 
will  ask  him.”  They  did  ask  him,  and  he  consented  to 
preach.  The  room  selected  for  the  service  was  in  the 
tavern  opposite  the  Court-house,  called  the  grand  jury 
room.  When  Abbott  entered  the  room  he  looked  all 
around,  and  seeing  but  one  door,  he  took  a  chair  and 
placed  himself  in  it  in  order  to  prevent  a  retreat  on  the 
part  of  his  auditors,  and  announced  for  his  text,  “Ye 
serpents,  ye  generation  of  vipers,  how  shall  ye  escape 
the  damnation  of  hell?”  Mr.  Ware  observed  that  such 
a  flood  of  terror  “had  seldom  been  poured  from  the  lips 

of  any  preacher.  He,  however,  closed  in  a  tender,  win- 
15 


238  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

ning  manner,  by  directing  them  how  to  escape ;  and  as 
Mr.  W.  intimated,  much  to  their  relief. 

“  Mr.  Abbott  continued  to  labor  as  a  local  preacher, 
in  his  peculiar  style,  throughout  the  county,  for  fifteen 
years ;  and,  although  it  was  repulsive  to  many  people, 
and  particularly  so  to  formalists,  he  was  greatly  in¬ 
strumental  in  the  conversion,  not  only  of  the  immoral, 
but  some  who  stood  high,  professionally,  in  other 
religious  societies,  Presbyterians,  Baptists,  Quakers, 
Churchmen,  and  even  Homan  Catholics.  So  great  was 
his  fame  in  combating  the  powers  of  darkness,  espe¬ 
cially  the  sin  of  intemperance,  that  some  thought  the 
devils  existed  in  a  kind  of  subjection  to  him.  A  certain 
man  who  had  been  so  addicted  to  drunkenness  as  to 
bring  on  repeated  attacks  of  delirium  tremens  imagined, 
during  one  of  these  attacks,  that  his  bed-room  was  full 
of  devils,  that  he  saw  them  sticking  to  the  tester  of  his 
bedstead,  &c. ;  at  the  same  time  alleging  that  father 
Abbott  (as  saint  and  sinner  called  him)  had  driven  them 
out  of  Penn’s  Neck,*  and  they  had  come  to  Salem,  and 
nothing  would  answer  but  father  Abbott’s  prayers  to 
drive  them  from  his  bed-room.  He  was  accordingly  sent 
for.” 

The  first  meeting-house  in  Salem  was  erected  in  the 
year  1784.  Henry  Ffirth  superintended  the  enterprise. 

*  Abbott  removed  from  Mannington  to  Penn’s  Neck,  about  1781. 


METHODISM  IN  SALEM. 


239 


He  was  thought  to  possess  some  wealth  at  the  time,  but 
he  failed  shortly  after,  which  gave  occasion  to  the  ene¬ 
mies  of  Methodism  to  say,  “The  Methodists  have  ruined 
him !”  The  truth  was,  however,  he  was  involved  beyond 
recovery  before  he  became  a  Methodist. 

When  the  attempt  was  made  to  build  a  Church  in  Sa¬ 
lem,  the  society,  which  was  small  and  scattered,  found 
themselves  too  weak  to  accomplish  the  undertaking. 
They  therefore  called  upon  their  Quaker  neighbors  for 
assistance,  and  they  subscribed  liberally.  The  matter 
was  talked  over  at  the  Friends’  Quarterly-meeting,  and 
it  was  objected  that  the  Methodist  preachers  “  spoke  for 
hire.”  To  this  it  was  answered,  “  No,  it  was  only  for  a 
passing  support.”  At  length  consent  was  given  that 
Friends  who  were  free  to  do  so,  might  contribute  towards 
the  enterprise.* 

Benjamin  Abbott  was  baptized  in  this  Church  soon 
after  it  was  finished.  Although  he  wTas  converted  about 
twelve  years  previously,  and  commenced  preaching 
shortly  after,  he  was  not  baptized,  in  consequence  of  the 
Methodist  ministry  being  an  unordained  ministry,  until 
the  Salem  Church  was  erected. 

The  Rev.  J.  Lewis,  in  his  sketch  of  Salem  Methodism, 
published  in  1839,  says : — 

“  The  planting  of  Methodism  in  Salem  was  accom- 


*  Asbury’s  Journal,  vol.  i.  p.  464. 


240  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

panied  with  many  circumstances  common  to  its  introduc¬ 
tion  in  other  places,  and  some  rather  peculiar ;  one  of 
the  latter  I  shall  mention.  The  Methodists,  on  applica¬ 
tion  to  the  magistrates,  had  obtained  such  effectual  relief 
from  open  violence  that  their  persecutors  were  obliged 
to  have  recourse  to  some  new  expedient  to  accomplish 
their  purposes,  without  rendering  themselves  amenable 
to  justice.  The  method  to  which  they  resorted  was 
this :  to  assemble  together  in  a  place  of  their  own,  in 
order  to  turn  experimental  religion  into  a  farce.  In 
this  burlesque  on  religion,  the  persons  present  acted 
band-meetings,  class-meetings,  and  love-feasts  to  the 
great  entertainment  of  the  profane  congregation,  who, 
with  corresponding  irreverence  and  much  apparent  sat¬ 
isfaction,  enjoyed  this  new  species  of  theatrical  mirth. 

“  It  happened,  one  night,  while  they  were  performing 
a  band-meeting,  that  a  young  actress  stood  upon  one  of 
the  benches  to  speak  her  pretended  experience.  At 
length,  after  having  said  much  to  command  the  mirth  of 
the  delighted  audience,  she  exclaimed,  with  mock  solem¬ 
nity,  at  the  same  time  beating  her  breast,  ‘  Glory  be  to 
God,  I  have  found  peace,  I  am  sanctified,  and  am  now 
fit  to  die.’  Scarcely  had  the  unhappy  girl  uttered  these 
words  before  she  actually  dropped  from  the  bench  a  life¬ 
less  corpse. 

“  Struck  with  this  awful  visitation  the  auditors  were 


METHODISM  IN  SALEM. 


241 


instantly  seized  with  inexpressible  terror,  and  every  face 
filled  with  consternation  and  dismay.  The  assembly  im¬ 
mediately  broke  up ;  and,  in  consciousness  of  having 
gone  beyond  the  bounds  of  common  profaneness,  they 
all  silently  and  sneakingly  retired  to  their  respective 
habitations,  except  the  mournful  few  left  behind  to  take 
charge  of  the  melancholy  victim.  From  this  moment 
all  persecution  was  at  an  end  in  Salem,  and  not  a  tongue 
was  afterward  heard  either  against  the  gospel  or  any  of 
its  friends.* 

“An  aged  member  of  society,  who  joined  about  ten 
years  after  this  circumstance  took  place,  informs  me  that 
the  young  woman  did  not  die  immediately,  but  was  car¬ 
ried,  after  falling,  first  to  the  house  of  her  sister,  who, 
understanding  the  circumstances,  refused  to  receive  her, 
and,  in  being  conveyed  thence,  she  actually  died  upon 
the  wheelbarrow  with  which  they  conveyed  her.  This 
occurrence  must  have  taken  place  some  time  about  1792, 
when  Benjamin  Abbott  and  David  Bartine  traveled  the 
Salem  circuit,  one  of  the  seven  circuits  in  New  Jersey.” 

In  the  same  territory  in  which  there  were  then  seven 
circuits,  there  are  now  two  conferences,  and  nearly  three 
hundred  circuits  and  stations,  and  in  Salem  there  are 
now  two  large  Churches,  each  one  supporting  its  own 
pastor.  Such  has  been  the  growth  of  Methodism  within 
that  period. 


*  Dr.  Coke’s  Journal,  page  186. 


242  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS. 

We  meet  this  year  for  the  last  time  in  New  Jersey, 
William  Watters,  the  first  traveling  preacher  raised 
up  in  America,  and  one  of  the  first  that  regularly  la¬ 
bored  in  New  Jersey.  He  returned  this  year  simply  tc 
visit  the  scenes  of  his  former  toils  and  the  friends  of 
other  days.  He  moved  slowly,  visiting  several  places, 
and  proclaimed  again  to  his  delighted  friends  the  gospel 
which  seven  years  before  he  had  preached  with  so  much 
success  among  them.  During  his  visit  he  was  suffering 
from  the  ague,  which  rendered  him,  in  some  degree,  unfit 
for  labor ;  yet  the  demands  made  upon  him  were  such 
that  he  could  not  well  refrain  from  preaching,  as  he  says, 
“  I  was  obliged  to  preach  oftener  amongst  my  old  friends 
than  I  wished,  for  my  ague  and  fever  attended  me  as 
constantly  as  the  day.”  He  speaks  of  the  work  of  re¬ 
ligion  being,  at  this  time,  in  a  prosperous  condition  in 
the  portion  of  the  State  which  he  visited.  We  cannot 


SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS. 


243 


take  our  final  leave  of  him  without  lingering  to  cast  a 
more  minute  survey  over  the  history  of  his  useful  life. 

As  we  have  already  seen,  he  was  born  in  1751,  (his 
birth  occurring  on  the  16th  day  of  October,)  in  Balti¬ 
more  county,  Maryland.  His  parents  were  members  of 
the  Church  of  England,  and  at  the  age  of  two  years  he 
was  deprived  of  his  father  by  death.  The  family  were 
left  in  comfortable  circumstances,  though  not  rich,  and 
at  a  very  early  age  William  was  the  subject  of  religious 
impressions,  “but  was  naturally  vain,  proud,  self-willed, 
passionate.”  “Cursing,  swearing,  lying,  and  such  like 
practices,”  he  says,  “were  not  allowed  in  my  mother’s 
family;  and  from  my  infancy  I  always  found  the  great¬ 
est  affection  for  her,  as  one  of  the  best  of  parents ;  and 
if,  at  any  time,  I  was  sensible  that  I  had  grieved  her  in 
any  degree,  I  never  could  be  at  rest  till  I  had  humbled 
myself,  and  she  had  shown  me  tokens  of  forgiveness.” 

At  the  age  of  eight  or  nine  years,  he  was  beset  with 
temptations  to  curse  God,  which,  he  says,  “  would  often 
make  me  shudder,  and  with  all  my  might,  I  would  try  to 
put  away  such  troublesome  thoughts  out  of  my  mind, 
but  was  not  able;  so  that  it  was  not  uncommon  for  me, 
at  such  times,  in  the  utmost  distress  inwardly  to  reply — 
No — no  !  not  for  the  world ;  but  would  conclude  that, 
as  God  knew  my  heart,  I  had  actually  cursed  him  as 
though  I  had  spoken  aloud,  and  that  this  was  the  unpar- 


244  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

donable  sin  that  our  Saviour  said  should  never  he  for¬ 
given,  which  would  greatly  distress  me ;  while  I  thought 
myself,  at  such  times,  one  of  the  vilest  sinners  on  earth, 
and  was  frequently  afraid  that  all  who  saw  me  would 
know  how  wicked  I  was.  At  other  times  I  was  much 
terrified  with  thoughts  of  death  and  the  torments  of 
hell ;  though  it  was  a  very  rare  thing  I  ever  heard  any 
one  say  a  word  on  those  momentous  subjects. 

“  As  I  grew  older,  I  was  more  and  more  engaged  in 
seeking  death  in  the  error  of  my  ways,  and  by  the  time 
I  was  twelve  or  fourteen  I  took  great  delight  in  dancing, 
in  card-playing,  in  attending  horse-racing,  and  such  like 
pernicious  practices;  though  often  terrified  with  the 
thoughts  of  eternity  in  the  midst  of  them,  which  would 
frequently  so  damp  all  my  momentary  joys,  that  I  would 
feel  very  miserable  indeed.  Thus  did  my  precious  time 
roll  around,  while  I  was  held  in  the  chains  of  my  sins, 
too  often  a  whiling  captive  of  the  devil;  I  had  no  one  to 
tell  me  the  evil  of  sin,  or  to  teach  me  the  way  of  life 
and  salvation.  The  two  ministers  in  the  two  parishes, 
with  whom  I  was  acquainted,  were  both  immoral  men, 
and  had  no  gifts  for  the  ministry ;  if  they  received  their 
salary,  they  appeared  to  think  but  little  about  the  souls 
of  the  people.  The  blind  were  evidently  leading  the 
blind,  and  it  was  the  mere  mercy  of  God  that  we  did  not 
all  fall  into  hell  together.” 


SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS. 


245 


In  the  summer  of  1770  the  Methodists  preached  in 
the  neighborhood  where  he  was  brought  up,  and  he  had 
frequent  opportunities  of  hearing  them.  They  preached 
the  doctrine  of  the  new  birth,  but  he  could  not  conceive 
what  it  meant;  and  for  some  time  he  gave  but  little 
thought  to  the  truths  he  heard,  yet  he  dared  not  despise 
and  revile  the  Methodists  as  many  then  did.  A  By  fre¬ 
quently  being  in  company  with  several  of  my  old  ac¬ 
quaintances,”  he  says,  “who  had  embraced  and  professed 
Methodism,  amongst  whom  was  my  eldest  brother  and 
his  wife,  (whom  I  thought  equal  to  any  religious  people 
in  the  world),  and  to  hear  them  all  declare,  as  with  one 
voice,  that  they  knew  nothing  of  heart  religion,  the  re¬ 
ligion  of  the  Bible,  till  since  they  heard  the  Methodists 
preach,  utterly  confounded  me ;  and  I  could  but  say 
with  Nicodemus,  1  How  can  these  things  be  ?’  While  I 
was  marveling  and  wondering  at  these  unheard-of  things 
that  those  strange  people  were  spreading  wherever 
they  came,  and  before  I  was  aware,  I  found  my  heart 
inclined  to  forsake  many  of  my  vain  practices,  and  the 
last  place  of  merriment  I  was  ever  at,  I  remember  well, 
I  was  hardly  even  a  looker-on .” 

The  Spirit  strove  with  him,  and  he  soon  became  quite 
serious,  read  his  Bible  with  attention,  was  uniform  and 
earnest  in  private  prayer,  took  pleasure  in  the  company 
of  the  pious,  and  shunned  the  society  of  others.  He 


246  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

embraced  every  opportunity  of  bearing  the  gospel  and 
the  last  month  before  he  was  fully  convinced  of  his  real 
condition  as  a  sinner,  he  says,  he  seldom,  if  ever,  omitted 
bowing  his  “knees  before  the  God  and  Father  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  four  or  five  times  a  day.”  Yet  all 
this  while,  he  says,  he  was  but  a  Pharisee,  seeking  to  be 
justified  by  the  deeds  of  the  law,  though  he  was  sincere 
in  all  that  he  did. 

At  length,  after  having  more  than  an  ordinary  amount 
of  religious  concern  for  several  days,  he  attended  a 
prayer  meeting  one  Sabbath  day.  “  While  one  was  at 
prayer,”  he  says,  “I  saw  a  man  near  me,  who  I  knew 
to  be  a  poor  sinner,  trembling,  weeping,  and  praying,  as 
though  his  all  depended  on  the  present  moment;  his  soul 
and  body  were  in  an  agony.  Mercy — Mercy  for  Christ’s 
sake  !  was  the  burden  of  his  cry.  The  gracious  Lord, 
who  works  by  what  means  he  pleases,  blessed  this  cir¬ 
cumstance  greatly  to  my  conviction ;  so  that  I  felt,  in  a 
manner  which  I  have  not  words  fully  to  express,  that  I 
must  be  internally  changed — that  I  must  be  born  again, 
born  of  the  Spirit,  or  never  see  the  face  of  God  in  glory. 
Without  this  I  was  deeply  sensible  that  all  I  had  done, 
or  could  do,  was  vain  and  of  no  account,  if  not  done  as 
the  Lord  had  appointed,  in  order  to  obtain  this  Divine 
change,  this  new  nature.  I  went  home  much  distressed, 
and  fully  determined,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to  seek  the 


SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS. 


247 


salvation  of  my  soul  with  my  whole  heart,  and  never 
rest  till  I  knew  the  Lord  had  blotted  out  my  sins,  and 
shed  his  love  abroad  in  my  heart  by  the  Holy  Ghost. 
In  this  frame  of  mind,  I  soon  got  by  myself,  and  fell 
upon  my  knees  before  my  merciful  God,  who  had  spared 
me  through  a  life  of  sin  and  ingratitude.  But,  oh  !  alas ! 
my  heart,  my  sinful  heart  felt  as  a  rock  !  and,  although 
I  believed  myself  in  the  i  gall  of  bitterness,  and  in  the 
bonds  of  iniquity,’  and,  of  course,  that  if  I  died  in  that 
state,  I  must  die  eternally ;  yet  I  could  not  shed  one 
tear,  neither  could  I  find  words  to  express  my  wretch¬ 
edness  before  my  merciful  High  Priest.  I  could  only 
bemoan  my  forlorn  state,  and  wandered  about  through 
the  afternoon  in  solitary  places,  seeking  rest,  but  found 
none. 

“  I  returned  in  the  evening  to  the  neighbor’s,  above 
mentioned,  where  we  had  been  for  public  worship,  and 
several  coming  in,  joined  in  prayer,  and  the  Lord  again 
smote  my  rocky  heart,  and  caused  it  to  gush  out  with 
penitential  sorrow  for  my  many  sins  against  him  who  so 
c  loved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son, 
that  whosoever  believeth  in  him,  should  not  perish,  hut 
have  everlasting  life.’  I  was  so  melted  down,  and  blessed 
with  such  a  praying  heart,  that  I  should  have  been  glad 
if  they  would  have  continued  on  their  knees  all  night  in 
prayer  for  me  a  poor  helpless  wretch.  My  concern  was 


248  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

such,  that  I  feared  lying  down  or  closing  my  eyes,  lest  I 
should  wake  in  hell. 

“  The  following  day  I  was  unfit  for  any  worldly  business, 
and  spent  that  day  mostly  in  private,  while  Christ  on  the 
cross,  bleeding,  and  bearing  the  sins  of  the  whole  world  in 
his  own  body,  and  dying  to  make  a  full  atonement  for  the 
chief  of  sinners,  that  they  might  not  die  eternally,  was 
continually  before  the  eyes  of  my  mind ;  while,  in  the 
most  bitter  manner,  did  my  soul  exclaim,  Oh !  how  have 
I  slighted  the  bleeding  Saviour,  and  trampled  his  most 
precious  blood  under  my  unhallowed  feet,  and  have  done 
despite  to  the  Spirit  of  grace !  The  thoughts  and  sight 
thereof,  now,  through  Divine  mercy,  made  my  eyes  to 
run  down  with  tears,  while  my  very  heart  was  ready  to 
burst  asunder  with  sorrow.  Thus  was  I  bowed  down 
and  determined  to  wait  at  the  foot  of  the  cross,  while  I 
was  stripped  of  all  dependence  in  outward  things,  and 
was  well  assured  that  there  was  i  no  other  name  under 
heaven  given  among  men,  whereby  we  must  be  saved.’  ” 

He  continued  to  seek  the  Lord  with  strong  crying  and 
tears,  oppressed  with  the  burden  of  his  sins,  and  refus¬ 
ing  “to  be  comforted  but  by  the  Friend  of  sinners.” 
So  great  was  his  distress  that  for  three  days  and  nights 
he  could  scarcely  eat,  drink,  or  sleep  ;  his  flesh  wasted ; 
his  strength  failed,  and  he  felt  most  sensibly  the  force 
of  the  question — “A  wounded  spirit  who  can  bear?” 


SKETCHES  OE  PREACHERS. 


249 


For  a  little  time  lie  feared  that  his  state  was  hopeless — 
that  his  day  of  grace  had  forever  passed ;  but  for  the 
most  part  he  had  a  gleam  of  hope  that  at  some  distant 
time  God  would  be  merciful  to  him.  At  length  some  de¬ 
vout  friends,  who  were  acquainted  with  his  state,  visited 
him,  and  after  some  conversation  he  desired  them  to 
pray  for  him.  It  was  about  the  middle  of  the  day. 
The  family  were  called  in,  and  one  gave  out  the  hymn, 

“  Give  to  the  winds  thy  fears, 

Hope  and  be  undismayed  &c. 

They  all  joined  in  singing,  and  sung  with  the  spirit  and 
in  faith,  while  with  eyes  flowing  with  tears,  and  his  face 
turned  to  the  wall,  he  “felt  a  lively  hope”  that  the  Lord 
would  show  him  mercy.  And  he  was  not  disappointed. 
“The  Lord  heard,”  he  says,  “and  appeared  spiritually 
in  the  midst.  A  divine  light  beamed  through  my  inmost 
soul,  which,  in  a  few  minutes,  encircled  me  around,  sur¬ 
passing  the  brightness  of  the  noon-day  sun.  This  di¬ 
vine  glory,  with  the  holy  glow  that  I  felt  within  my  soul, 
I  feel  still  as  distinct  an  idea  of,  as  that  I  ever  saw  the 
light  of  the  natural  sun,  or  any  impression  of  my  mind. 
*  *  *  My  burden  was  gone — my  sorrow  fled — my 

soul  and  all  that  was  within  me  rejoiced  in  hope  of  the 
glory  of  God ;  while  I  beheld  such  fullness  and  willing¬ 
ness  in  the  Lord  Jesus  to  save  lost  sinners,  and  my  soul 


250  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

so  rested  on  him,  that  I  could  now,  for  the  first  time,  call 
Jesus  Christ  ‘Lord,  by  the  Holy  Ghost  given  unto  me.’ 
The  hymn  being  concluded,  we  all  fell  upon  our  knees, 
but  my  prayers  were  all  turned  into  praises.  A  super¬ 
natural  power  penetrated  every  faculty  of  my  soul  and 
body,  and  the  words  of  the  prophet  were  literally  ful¬ 
filled  in  my  conversion  to  God.  4  And  he  shall  sit  as  a 
refiner  and  purifier  of  silver ;  and  He  shall  purify  the 
sons  of  Levi,  and  purge  them  as  gold  and  silver,  that 
they  may  offer  unto  the  Lord  an  offering  in  righteous¬ 
ness.’  Such  was  the  change,  and  so  undeniable  to  all 
present,  that  they  appeared  greatly  affected,  and  confi¬ 
dent  that  the  Lord  had  descended  in  the  power  of  his 
Spirit,  and  wrought  a  glorious  work  in  the  4  presence  of 
them  all.’  ” 

This  happy  change  occurred  in  May,  1771,  in  the 
same  house  in  which  he  was  born.  Having  never  known 
or  heard  of  any  people  but  the  Methodists,  who  professed 
to  know  anything  of  what  he  now  enjoyed,  and  as  they 
were  instrumental  in  leading  him  to  the  attainment  of 
salvation,  he  was  led  to  unite  himself  with  them,  44  and 
thought  it  a  greater  blessing  to  be  received  a  member 
amongst  them  than  to  be  made  a  prince.” 

The  Methodists  had  no  regular  preaching  in  those  days, 
and  at  that  time  there  had  been  only  three  preachers  in 
Maryland,  Strawbridge,  King,  and  Williams,  so  that 


SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS. 


251 


some  times  quite  a  long  period  would  elapse  in  which 
they  had  no  preaching.  “But,  in  one  sense,”  he  says, 
“we  were  all  preachers.  The  visible  change  that  sinners 
could  not  but  see,  and  many  openly  acknowledged,  was 
a  means  of  bringing  them  to  seek  the  Lord.  On  the 
Lord’s  day  we  commonly  divided  into  little  bands,  and 
went  out  into  different  neighborhoods,  wherever  there 
was  a  door  open  to  receive  us,  two,  three,  or  four  in 
company,  and  would  sing  our  hymns,  pray,  read,  talk  to 
the  people,  and  some  soon  began  to  add  a  word  of  ex¬ 
hortation.  We  were  weak,  but  we  lived  in  a  dark  day, 
and  the  Lord  greatly  owned  our  labors ;  for,  though  we 
were  not  full  of  wisdom,  we  were  blessed  with  a  good 
degree  of  faith  and  power.  The  little  flock  was  of  one 
heart  and  mind,  and  the  Lord  spread  the  leaven  of  his 
grace  from  heart  to  heart,  from  house  to  house,  and  from 
one  neighborhood  to  another ;  and  though  our  gifts  were 
small,  yet  was  it  astonishing  to  see  how  rapidly  the  work 
spread  all  around,  bearing  down  the  little  oppositions 
with  which  it  met,  as  chaff  before  the  wind.  Many  will 
praise  God  forever  for  our  prayer-meetings.  In  many 
neighborhoods  they  soon  became  respectable,  and  were 
considerably  attended.” 

From  the  time  of  his  conversion  he  felt  a  deep  solic¬ 
itude  for  sinners,  and  was  drawn  out  in  prayer  for  their 
salvation.  He  felt  willing  to  make  any  sacrifice  in  order 


252  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

to  save  them,  but  did  not  think  it  possible  that  he  should 
ever  be  able  to  labor  in  a  public  capacity  for  their  good. 
Finding,  however,  that  his  humble  endeavors  were  blessed 
to  the  conversion  of  souls  in  several  different  neighbor¬ 
hoods,  and  that  the  hearts  and  houses  of  the  people  wrere 
open  to  receive  him,  and  at  the  same  time  feeling  a  con¬ 
viction  that  it  was  his  duty  to  labor  for  God,  he  sought, 
by  fasting  and  prayer,  for  divine  direction,  and  finally 
became  convinced  that  he  must  go  forth  as  a  messenger 
of  the  Most  High,  to  bear  the  offers  of  salvation,  in  His 
name,  to  the  people. 

His  first  regular  field  of  labor,  as  an  itinerant,  was 
Norfolk,  Va.,  where  he  went  with  Robert  Williams  in 
the  autumn  of  1772.  They  were  kindly  received  by  the 
friends  there,  but  found  the  state  of  religion  by  no 
means  encouraging.  Hundreds  of  the  people  attended 
the  preaching,  but  they  were,  he  says,  “  the  most  hard¬ 
ened,  wild,  and  ill-behaved  of  any  people  I  had  ever  be¬ 
held  in  any  place.” 

Mr.  Pillmore,  who  was  at  that  time  in  Norfolk,  took 
a  tour  as  far  as  Charleston,  leaving  Watters  to  fill  his 
place  during  his  absence.  “  As  he  returned  through 
Portsmouth,  two  men,  well  dressed,  at  the  ferry,  were 
swearing  horridly.  He  lifted  up  his  hands,  and  with  a 
stern  voice,  exclaimed  aloud — ‘Well!  if  I  had  been 


SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS. 


253 


brought  to  this  place  blindfolded,  I  should  have  known 
I  was  near  Norfolk.’ 

“  The  Parish  minister  of  Norfolk  undertook,  in  a  ser¬ 
mon,  to  represent  us  as  a  set  of  enthusiasts  and  deceiv¬ 
ers.  His  text,  for  this  noble  purpose,  was,  ‘  Be  not  over 
righteous.’  Amongst  other  things  he  told  his  people, 
(what  none  of  them  would  have  otherwise  suspected,) 
that  he  knew  from  experience  the  evil  of  being  over 
righteous.  He  said  so  much  that  his  friends  were  dis¬ 
satisfied.  I  suppose  he  thought  that  Mr.  Pillmore  was 
gone  to  return  no  more.  But  he  found  his  mistake,  for 
he  returned  in  a  few  days  after,  and  gave  public  notice 
that  on  such  a  day  and  hour  he  would  preach  to  them 
from  ‘Be  not  over  wicked,’  the  words  following  the  par¬ 
son’s.  On  the  hour  appointed  the  town  appeared  in  mo¬ 
tion,  and  came  out  in  crowds.  After  reading  his  text, 
he  informed  his  congregation  why  he  had  given  them  the 
notice  of  his  intending  to  preach  from  these  words,  and 
why  he  had  made  choice  of  them  in  particular.  That  he 
had  been  creditably  informed  that  a  certain  divine  of 
that  town  had  given  the  citizens  thereof  a  solemn  caution 
against  being  over  righteous.  Lifting  up  his  hands  with 
a  very  significant  countenance,  he  exclaimed,  ‘And  in 
Norfolk  he  hath  given  this  caution !’  The  conduct  of  the 
parson  looked  (as  it  certainly  was)  contemptible.  Though 

these  were  severe  reproofs,  and  from  one  capable  of 
16 


254  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

forming  a  sound  judgment,  yet  Norfolk  continued  Nor¬ 
folk  as  long  as  I  knew  anything  about  it ;  and  it  was  no 
ways  strange  to  me  that  in  a  few  years  after  it  was  con¬ 
sumed  by  fire.” 

Having  entered  the  itinerant  ranks,  Watters  continued 
to  labor  with  zeal,  fidelity,  and  success  until  1783,  when 
he  located.  His  location  was  caused  by  his  being  in  a 
feeble  state  of  health,  and  not  receiving  that  indulgence 
in  his  appointments  which  he  thought  needful  under  the 
circumstances.  But  he  remained  firm  in  his  attachment 
to  Methodism,  and  labored  with  as  much  zeal  in  the  lo¬ 
cal  sphere  as  he  had  before  done  in  the  itinerancy.  As 
an  illustration  of  his  ministerial  labors  after  he  located, 
we  give  the  following  account  of  the  first  year  of  his  lo¬ 
cation  :  “  I  attended  Greenwich  preaching-house,  forty 
miles  from  me,  every  fourth  Sabbath ;  and  Leesburg, 
thirty  miles  off,  every  fourth  Sabbath,  besides  the  places 
between  me  and  those  above  mentioned.  And  though  I 
was  much  fatigued  in  so  doing,  being  still  in  a  weak  state 
of  health,  yet  I  found  the  Lord’s  service  to  be  perfect 
freedom,  and  feared  living  to  no  good  purpose.” 

In  1786  he  again  entered  upon  the  regular  work  of 
the  ministry  in  Berkeley  circuit ;  but  before  half  a  year 
had  expired,  family  considerations  compelled  him  again 
to  retire. 

As  he  was  returning  home  from  this  circuit,  he  saw, 


SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS.  25^ 

for  the  last  time,  his  old  friend  and  fellow  laborer,-  Rich¬ 
ard  Owen  (or  Owings),  who  was  dangerously  ill.  He 
says,  “  He  was  the  first  American  Methodist  preacher, 
though  for  many  years  he  acted  only  as  a  local  preacher. 
He  was  awakened  under  the  preaching  of  Robert  Straw- 
bridge,  a  local  preacher  from  Ireland,  who,  with  one 
more,  Philip  Embury,  were  the  first  Methodist  preachers 
in  America.  He  was  a  man  of  respectable  family,  of 
good  natural  parts,  and  of  a  considerable  utterance. 
Though  encumbered  with  a  family,  he  often  left  wife  and 
children,  and  a  comfortable  living,  and  went  into  many 
distant  parts,  before  we  had  any  traveling  preachers 
amongst  us,  and  without  fee  or  reward  freely  published 
that  gospel  to  others,  which  he  had  happily  found  to  be 
the  power  of  God  unto  his  own  salvation.  After  we  had 
regular  circuit  preachers  amongst  us,  he,  as  a  local 
preacher,  was  ever  ready  to  fill  up  a  gap ;  and  by  his  con¬ 
tinuing  to  go  into  neighborhoods  where  they  had  no 
preaching,  he  was  often  the  means  of  opening  the  way 
for  enlarging  old,  or  forming  new  circuits  in  different 
places.  Several  years  before  his  dissolution,  after  his 
children  were  grown  up  and  able  to  attend  to  his  family 
concerns,  he  gave  himself  up  entirely  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  and  finished  his  course  in  Leesburg,  Fairfax 
circuit,  in  the  midst  of  many  kind  friends,  but  some  dis¬ 
tance  from  his  family.  As  his  last  labors  were  in  the 


256  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

circuit  where  I  lived,  I  had  frequent  opportunity  of  be¬ 
ing  in  his  company,  both  in  public  and  in  private,  and 
had  every  reason  to  believe  that  he  had  kept  himself  un¬ 
spotted  from  the  world,  and  had  the  salvation  of  souls 
much  at  heart.  I  wish  it  was  in  my  power  to  hold  him 
up  in  his  real  character,  as  an  example  to  our  present 
race  of  local  preachers.  Plain  in  his  dress,  plain  in  his 
manners,  industrious  and  frugal,  he  bore  a  good  part  of 
the  burthen  and  heat  of  the  day  in  the  beginning  of  that 
work  which  has  since  so  gloriously  spread  through  this 
happy  continent,  and  was  as  anxious  to  be  a  general 
blessing  to  mankind  as  too  many  now  are  to  get  riches, 
and  make  a  show  in  the  world.  I  shall  need  make  no 
apology  tor  giving  this  short  account  of  so  worthy  a  man 
to  any  who  knew  him.  I  have  been  led  to  it  from  my 
long  and  particular  acquaintance  with  him,  and  there 
not  having  been  (I  am  sorry  to  say  it)  a  more  public  ac¬ 
count  of  him.  ‘Blessed  are  the  dead- who  die  in  the 
Lord,  from  henceforth ;  yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  that  they 
may  rest  from  their  labors,  and  their  works  do  follow 
them.’  ” 

He  returned  to  the  regular  work  in  1801,  in  which  he 
continued  until  1806,  when  he  again  retired  from  the 
ranks  of  the  itinerancy. 

Watters  was  a  man  of  circumspect  life,  and  of  unre- 


SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS. 


257 


mitted  devotion  to  the  cause  and  work  of  God.  He  ap¬ 
peared  to  be  but  little  influenced  by  considerations  of  an 
earthly  nature,  but  by  prayer,  by  fastings,  by  watchful¬ 
ness,  by  labors,  and  by  faith  unfeigned,  he  sought  the 
rewards  of  a  celestial  life.  His  memory  is  worthy  of 
being  cherished  by  the  Church  through  all  her  genera¬ 
tions  ;  and  with  the  lapse  of  ages  his  example  will  gather 
a  brighter  lustre,  as  it  stands  out  serenely  amidst  the 
fading  twilight  of  the  early  dawn  of  American  Method¬ 
ism,  invested  with  a  wreath  which  the  hand  of  Providence 
wove  only  for  him, 

THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  METHODIST  ITINERANT  PREACHER. 

Richard  Ivy  was  a  native  of  Sussex  county,  Vir¬ 
ginia.  He  entered  the  itinerancy,  probably,  in  1777,  as 
he  stands  in  the  minutes  as  continued  on  trial  in  1778, 
which  is  the  first  time  his  name  appears  on  the  record. 

He  was  appointed  that  year  to  Fluvanna,  Va.  The 
following  year  he  was  appointed  to  Brunswick,  Va. ;  in 
1780  he  was  sent  to  Pittsylvania,  Va. ;  in  1781,  to  Kent, 
Md.,  with  David  Abbott,  son  of  Benjamin  Abbott ;  1782, 
West  Jersey;  1783,  Nansernond,  Va. ;  1784,  Camden. 
From  1785  to  1793  he  was  Presiding  Elder,  his  districts 
being  chiefly  within  the  territory  embraced  in  South 
Carolina  and  Georgia.  In  1793  he  was  appointed 


258  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

Traveling  Book  Steward.  In  1794  he  desisted  from 
traveling  to  take  care  of  his  mother.  In  1795  he  was 
appointed  to  Norfolk  and  Portsmouth.  He  returned  to 
his  native  place  and  was  making  arrangements  to  retire 
from  the  itinerant  field,  when  he  was  taken  sick,  and 
died  in  the  latter  part  of  this  year.  “  He  was  a  man 
of  quick  and  solid  parts,”  say  his  brethren,  in  the  obit¬ 
uary  notice  given  of  him  in  the  minutes,  and  he 
“preached,”  says  Lee,  “with  a  good  degree  of  anima¬ 
tion.”  He  was  a  devoted  man,  and  manifested  a  self- 
sacrificing  spirit.  “  He  sought  not  himself  any  more 
than  a  Pedicord,  a  Gill,  or  a  Tunnell — men  well  known 
in  our  connection — who  never  thought  of  growing  rich 
by  the  gospel ;  their  great  concern  and  business  was  to 
be  rich  in  grace  and  useful  to  souls.  Thus,  Ivy,  a  man 
of  affliction,  lingering  out  his  latter  days,  spending  his 
all  with  his  life  in  the  work.  Exclusive  of  his  patrimony, 
he  was  indebted  at  his  death.”* 

“Soon  after  I  joined  the  Methodist  society,”  says 
Rev.  T.  Ware,  “Messrs.  Pedicord  and  Cromwell  were 
removed  from  our  circuit,  and  Dudley  and  Ivy  appointed 
in  their  places.  In  one  part  of  the  circuit  there  were 
several  families  who  had  received  the  preachers  from  the 
beginning.  Some  of  these  were  the  most  wealthy  and 

*  Minutes,  vol.  I.  p.  67. 


SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS. 


259 


respectable  in  the  vicinity,  only  they  were  suspected  of 
being  unfriendly  to  the  cause  of  their  country.  They 
had  joined  the  Methodists  before  the  war  commenced ; 
and  though  they  had  committed  no  act  by  which  they 
could  be  justly  accused  of  opposition  to  the  declaration 
of  independence;  yet,  as  they  refused  to  bear  arms,  they 
were  considered  hostile  to  it,  and  the  preachers  suspected 
of  disaffection  on  account  of  continuing  to  preach  at 
their  houses. 

“Learning  that  a  company  of  soldiers,  quartered  near 
one  of  these  appointments,  had  resolved  to  arrest  the 
first  preacher  who  should  come  there, 'and  carry  him  to 
head  quarters,  I  determined  to  accompany  him,  hoping, 
as  I  was  acquainted  with  some  of  the  officers,  to  con¬ 
vince  them  that  he  was  no  enemy  to  his  country.  The 
preacher  was  Richard  Ivy,  who  was  at  that  time  quite 
young.  The  rumor  of  what  was  about  to  be  done  hav¬ 
ing  gone  abroad,  many  of  the  most  respectable  inhabit¬ 
ants  of  the  neighborhood  were  collected  at  the  place. 
Soon  after  the  congregation  were  convened,  a  file  of  sol¬ 
diers  were  marched  into  the  yard  and  halted  near  the 
door ;  and  two  officers  came  in,  drew  their  swords  and 
crossed  them  on  the  table,  and  seated  themselves,  one  at 
each  side  of  it,  but  so  as  to  look  the  preacher  full  in  the 
face. 

“  I  watched  his  eye  with  great  anxiety,  and  soon  saw 


260  MEMORIALS  OP  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

that  he  was  not  influenced  by  fear.  His  text  was,  ‘  Fear 
not ,  little  flock ,  for  it  is  your  Father  s  good  pleasure  to 
give  you  the  kingdom .’  When  he  came  to  enforce  the  ex¬ 
hortation,  ‘Fear  not,’  he  paused  and  said,  ‘Christians 
sometimes  fear  when  there  is  no  cause  of  fear.’  And 
so,  he  added,  he  presumed  it  was  with  some  then  pre¬ 
sent.  Those  men  who  were  engaged  in  the  defence  of 
their  country’s  rights  meant  them  no  harm.  He  spoke 
fluently  and  forcibly  in  commendation  of  the  cause  of 
freedom  from  foreign  and  domestic  tyranny,  looking,  at 
the  same  time,  first  on  the  swords  and  then  in  the  faces 
of  the  officers,  as  if  he  would  say,  This  looks  a  little  too 
much  like  domestic  oppression ;  and,  in  conclusion,  bow¬ 
ing  to  each  of  the  officers  and  opening  his  bosom,  said, 
‘  Sirs,  I  would  fain  show  you  my  heart ;  if  it  beats  not 
high  for  legitimate  liberty,  may  it  forever  cease  to 
beat !’ 

“  This  he  said  in  such  a  tone  of  voice,  and  with  such 
a  look  as  thrilled  the  whole  audience,  and  gave  him  com¬ 
mand  of  their  feelings.  The  countenances  of  the  officers 
at  first  wore  a  contemptuous  frown  ;  then  a  significant 
smile ;  and  then  they  were  completely  unarmed,  hung 
down  their  heads,  and,  before  the  conclusion  of  this 
masterly  address,  shook  like  the  leaves  of  an  aspen. 
Many  of  the  people  sobbed  aloud,  and  others  cried  out, 
Amen  !  While  the  soldiers  without  (the  doors  and  win- 


SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS. 


261 


dows  being  open)  swung  their  hats  and  shouted,  Huzza 
for  the  Methodist  parson !  On  leaving,  the  officers 
shook  hands  with  the  preacher,  and  wished  him  well ; 
and  afterward  said  they  would  share  the  last  shilling  with 
him.” 

From  the  slight  information  we  can  gather  respecting 
his  pulpit  abilities,  we  infer  that  they  must  have  been  of 
a  superior  order.  In  public  exhortation  he  was  some¬ 
times  very  powerful.  The  man  who  could  follow  one  of 
Abbott’s  successful  sermons  with  an  exhortation,  and 
maintain  the  interest  and  feeling  of  the  congregation 
must  have  possessed  considerable  power.  And  this  Ivy 
did.  At  a  Quarterly  meeting  in  Maryland,  Abbott 
preached  on  Sabbath  morning  with  such  effect  that  many 
cried  aloud,  and  some  were  prostrated  upon  the  floor, 
and,  “after  I  concluded,”  he  says,  “brother  Ivy  gave 
an  exhortation,  and  spoke  very  powerfully,  many  wept 
under  his  exhortation.” 

John  Tunnel  was  admitted  on  trial  in  1777,  and  ap¬ 
pointed  to  Brunswick  circuit,  Va.,  in  company  with  Wil¬ 
liam  Watters  and  Freeborn  Garrettson.  These  were  all 
excellent  and  laborious  men,  yet  their  labors  in  that  field 
were  not  remarkably  successful.  Much  depends  upon 
the  circumstances  under  which,  and  the  character  of  the 
people  among  whom,  the  minister  labors.  Sometimes 


262  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

there  may  be  a  large  congregation  to  listen  to  the  word, 
and  yet  that  congregation  may  be  mainly  composed  of 
persons  who  already  profess  to  have  experienced  the 
saving  power  of  the  gospel.  In  that  case  if  a  pastor 
builds  up  the  flock  in  holiness  he  does  a  blessed  work. 
It  is  not  to  be  expected  that  he  should  have  a  great 
ingathering  of  souls,  if  but  few  are  within  the  circle  of 
his,  or  his  Church’s  influence,  who  do  not  already  profess 
religion.  Even  the  strongest  and  most  effective  men 
of  our  primitive  ministry  did  not  always  witness,  imme¬ 
diately,  such  results  of  their  labors  as  they  desired. 
This  is  shown  by  the  following  passage  from  the  Life  of 
Watters,  in  regard  to  his  own  and  Garrettson’s  and  Tun- 
nell’s  labors  in  Brunswick  circuit : 

“In  this  circuit,”  he  says,  “we  had  many  hearers, 
but  only  a  few  of  those  who  were  not  of  our  society  ap¬ 
peared  to  be  benefited  by  our  preaching.  There  were 
large  societies  in  almost  every  neighborhood,  and  gener¬ 
ally  speaking,  our  brethren  were  lively,  many  of  them 
much  so.  My  hands  were  full,  and  my  work  was  much 
greater  than  my  strength ;  so  that  I  often  feared  I  did 
not  pay  that  particular  attention  to  every  soul  of  my 
charge,  that  I  ought.  My  two  brethren  who  labored 
with  me  were  very  devout  and  faithful  men,  and  T  was 
not  a  little  comforted  in  the  thought  that  they  would 
supply  my  lack  of  service.  We  endeavored  to  bear  each 


SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS. 


263 


other’s  burthens  and  strengthen  each  other’s  hands  ;  and 
though  our  success  was  by  no  means  equal  to  our  wishes, 
yet  the  Lord  did  evidently  own  us  in  every  neighbor¬ 
hood,  both  in  and  out  of  our  societies.  We  labored  to 
the  utmost  of  our  abilities  in  the  good  and  gracious  cause 
of  our  glorious  Master,  and  daily  found  his  service  to  be 
perfect  freedom.” 

In  1778  Tunnell  was  appointed  to  Baltimore  with  Jo¬ 
seph  Cromwell,  Thomas  M’Clure,  and  John  Beck. 
M’Clure  had  previously  labored  in  New  Jersey,  Crom¬ 
well  and  Tunnell  also  subsequently  labored  there.  In 
1779-80  he  wras  appointed  to  Berkeley,  Va.,  with  John 
Haggerty  ;  Micaijah  Debruler  laboring  with  them  the 
second  year  as  preacher  in  charge.  In  1781  he  was  ap¬ 
pointed  to  Kent,  Delaware;  1782,  East  Jersey,  as 
preacher  in  charge;  1783,  Kent,  Md. ;  1784,  Dorches¬ 
ter,  Md.  ;  1785,  Charleston.  In  1786  he  was  “Elder” 
over  a  district  which  included  East  Jersey,  Newark,  New 
York,  and  Long  Island.  In  1787  he  went  to  East  Ten¬ 
nessee,  where  he  labored  as  Elder.  The  circumstances 
under  which  he  went  to  that  missionary  field  are  given 
by  Rev.  Thomas  Ware,  in  an  article  published  in  the 
Christian  Advocate  and  Journal,  Feb.  28,  1834,  as  fol¬ 
lows  : — 

“  It  was  at  a  Conference  in  the  spring  of  1787  where 
three  young  men,  who  esteemed  the  reproach  of  Christ 


264  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

greater  riches  than  all  earthly  treasures,  volunteered  to 
accompany  the  Rev.  John  Tunnell  on  a  mission  to  East 
Tennessee,  then  called  Holstein.  A  mission  at  that 
time  to  this  section  of  country  was  no  less  perilous  than 
one  at  this  time  is  to  the  coast  of  Western  Africa. 

“East  Tennessee,  though  very  remote  from  trade,  is 
a  fine  country.  It  is  finely  watered  by  five  rivers,  of 
which  Holstein  is  the  chief ;  but  none  of  them  is  navi¬ 
gable  but  for  small  boats.  The  bottoms  along  the  water 
courses  are  very  rich,  and  here  the  first  settlers  became 
located,  and  of  course  the  population  w’as  vastly  scat¬ 
tered,  insomuch  that  a  parochial  ministry  could  not  be 
supported.  And,  although  it  had  become  a  State,  it 
might  rather  have  been  called  a  pagan,  than  a  Christian 
State ;  for  when  we  arrived  there,  there  were  not  more 
than  four  or  five  sorry  preaching-houses  within  its  whole 
jurisdiction,  two  of  which  had  been  built  by  the  Meth¬ 
odists. 

“  Here,  then,  was  a  pressing  call  for  itinerants.  And 
the  pious  father  of  Mr.  Tunnell  had  written  an  affecting 
letter  to  his  son,  describing  their  destitution  of  the 
means  of  grace,  and  urging  him  to  come  to  them,  and 
bring  with  him  two  or  three  young  men  who  counted  not 
their  lives  dear,  so  that  they  might  save  souls,  and  closed 
with — Let  no  one  come  who  is  afraid  to  die :  their  lives 
will  often  he  in  jeopardy  from  the  red  men  of  the  wilder- 


SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS. 


265 


ness.  And  the  Rev.  H.  Willis,  who  had  traveled  one 
year  in  Holstein,  said,  All  that  good  old  Mr.  Tunnell 
had  said  was  true,  and  more ;  and  in  his  view  all  that 
went  on  this  mission  should  know  all  about  it — should 
know  if  they  traveled  there,  they  must  ford  and  swim  the 
rivers  at  the  risk  of  life  ;  sleep,  if  they  could,  in  the 
summer  in  blankets,  and  in  winter  in  open  log-cabins, 
with  light  bed-clothes,  and  often  with  two  or  three  child¬ 
ren  in  bed  with  you.  But  in  particular,  he  should  know 
that  he  was  going  to  a  frontier  country,  infested  with 
savage  men,  cruel  as  the  grave.  Yes,  continued  he,  the 
red  man,  seeing  his  possessions  wasting  away  as  the 
white  man  approaches,  has  become  infui'iated,  and  is  re¬ 
solved  to  sell  his  country  at  the  dearest  rate,  and,  sav- 
age-like,  wreaks  his  vengeance  indiscriminately ;  hence 
many  a  hapless  virgin,  or  mother  and  her  innocent  babes, 
are  slaughtered  or  led  away  captives ;  moreover,  it  is 
needful  that  they  should  know  clothing  is  dear  and 
money  scarce.” 

Notwithstanding  the  perils  that  awaited  them,  Tunnell 
and  his  associates  heroically  entered  that  rugged  field 
which  so  greatly  needed  their  evangelical  labors,  and  he 
continued  there  to  toil  until  the  Master  said,  “  It  is 
enough!  Come  up  higher.” 

In  1788  he  was  elder  over  a  very  large  district  which 
included  ten  circuits  and  extended  into  North  Carolina. 


266  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

In  1789  he  was  elder  in  East  Tennessee.  This  was  his 
last  appointment.  He  died  of  consumption  at  the  Sweet 
Springs,  in  July,  1790. 

Tunnell  was  a  man  of  placid  spirit,  and  “  was  no  less 
tranquil  in  his  death  than  in  his  life.”  He  was  deficient 
in  physical  strength,  and  his  “  appearance  very  much  re¬ 
sembled  that  of  a  dead  man,”  but  he  possessed  a  strong, 
musical  voice,  with  which  he  frequently  “  poured  forth  a 
flood  of  heavenly  eloquence,”  when  he  seemed  like  “a 
messenger  from  the  invisible  world.”  “A  sailor  was 
one  day  passing  where  Tunnell  was  preaching.  He 
stopped  to  listen  and  was  observed  to  be  much  affected ; 
and,  on  meeting  with  his  companions  after  he  left,  he 
said,  ‘  I  have  been  listening  to  a  man  who  has  been  dead 
and  in  heaven ;  but  he  has  returned,  and  is  telling  the 
people  all  about  that  world.’  And  he  declared  to  them 
he  had  never  been  so  much  affected  by  anything  he  had 
ever  seen  or  heard  before.”* 

Asbury  visited  him  during  his  illness,  and  found  him 
very  low,  “but  very  humble  and  patient  under  his  afflic¬ 
tion.”  The  Bishop  attended  his  funeral,  on  occasion  of 
which  he  recorded  the  following  tribute  in  his  Journal : 
“  Brother  Tunnell’s  corpse  was  brought  to  Dew’s  Chapel. 
I  preached  his  funeral :  my  text,  ‘  For  me  to  live  is 
Christ,  and  to  die  is  gain.’  We  were  much  blessed  and 


*  Life  of  Rev.  Thomas  Ware,  p.  85. 


SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS. 


267 


the  power  of  God  was  eminently  present.  It  is  about 
fourteen  years  since  brother  Tunnell  first  knew  the 
Lord ;  and  he  has  spoken  about  thirteen  years,  and 
traveled  through  eight  of  the  thirteen  states ;  few  men, 
as  public  ministers,  were  better  known  or  more  beloved. 
He  was  a  simple  hearted,  artless,  child-like  man ;  for  his 
opportunities  he  was  a  man  of  good  learning,  had  a  large 
fund  of  Scripture  knowledge,  was  a  good  historian,  a 
sensible,  improving  preacher,  a  most  affectionate  friend, 
and  a  great  saint ;  he  had  been  wasting  and  declining 
in  strength  and  health  for  eight  years  past,  and  for  the 
last  twelve  months  sinking  into  a  consumption.” 

Lee,  the  first  historian  of  American  Methodism,  pays 
a  tribute  to  Tunnell’s  excellence  and  gifts  as  follows : — 

t 

“  Mr.  Tunnell  was  elected  to  the  office  of  an  elder  at 
the  Christmas  Conference,  when  we  were  first  formed 
into  a  Church.  His  gifts,  as  a  preacher,  were  great ; 
and  his  conduct,  as  a -pious  man,  was  worthy  of  imita¬ 
tion.  He  was  greatly  beloved  in  his  life,  and  much  la¬ 
mented  in  his  death.  He  died  about  a  mile  to  the  west 
of  the  Sweet  Springs.  His  friends  took  his  remains 
over  the  mountain  to  a  meeting-house  about  five  miles 
east  of  the  Sweet  Springs,  where  they  buried  him.” 

Joseph  Everett  was  born  m  Queen  Ann’s  county, 
Maryland,  June  17,  1782.  His  parents  were  neither 


268  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

rich  nor  poor,  but  were  accustomed  to  labor,  and  trained 
their  son  to  habits  of  industry.  They  were  without 
religion,  except  the  name,  and  called  themselves  of 
the  Church  of  England.  Until  he  was  twenty  years  of 
age  Joseph  never  heard  a  gospel  sermon.  The  preaching 
he  did  hear  had  no  savor  of  Christ  and  no  unction  of  the 
Spirit.  It  consisted  of  such  dry  moral  teachings  as  an 
irreligious  clergyman  might  he  expected  to  furnish  to  his 
hearers. 

At  an  early  age  he  became  addicted  to  the  vices  of 
profanity,  falsehood,  &c.,  and  continued  in  a  course  of 
open  sinfulness  until  after  he  was  married.  His  wife 
was  about  equally  devoted  to  the  pleasures  of  sin  as 
himself,  and  they  walked  together  in  the  downward  path. 
He,  however,  had,  during  his  career  of  folly,  frequent 
unrest  of  soul,  and  was  afraid  of  death,  and  sometimes 
felt  such  a  sense  of  guilt  as  would  cause  him  to  resolve  to 
reform  his  life,  but  his  resolutions,  he  says,  were  but  as 
“ropes  of  sand.” 

At  length  the  New-lights,  or  Whitefieldites,  entered 
the  region  where  he  lived,  preaching  the  fundamental 
doctrines  of  Christianity.  He  went  to  hear  them.  His 
views  of  the  nature  of  religion  now  underwent  a  change. 
He  had  thought  that  it  consisted  in  breaking  away  from 
outward  sin,  hut  he  now  saw  it  was  a  change  of  the 
heart — the  infusion  of  a  new  life  into  the  soul.  He  be- 


SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS. 


269 


came  convinced  of  the  necessity  of  the  new  birth,  and 
entered  upon  a  course  of  religious  duties  with  the  hope 
of  obtaining  it.  He  read  his  Bible,  prayed  in  secret 
and  with  his  family,  observed  the  Sabbath,  and  attended 
preaching,  while  his  mind  was  engrossed  with  the  con¬ 
cerns  of  his  eternity.  A  clearer  light  dawned  upon  his 
spirit,  but  his  heart  did  not  find  rest.  He  felt  himself 
to  be  one  of  the  most  miserable  of  men,  and  would  even 
envy  the  brutes  because  they  had  no  souls.  Thus  he 
continued  for  nearly  two  years,  and  though  his  outward 
life  was  greatly  changed,  and  he  entered  into  communion 
with  the  Church,  and  was  regarded  by  many  as  a  good 
Christian,  yet  he  had  not  conscious  peace  with  God. 
The  hour  of  deliverance,  however,  came  at  last. 

“  One  Sabbath  day,”  he  says,  “  as  I  was  sitting  in  my 
house,  none  of  the  family  being  at  home,  meditating  on 
the  things  of  God,  I  took  up  the  Bible,  and  it  providen¬ 
tially  opened  at  the  eleventh  chapter  of  St.  Luke’s  Gos¬ 
pel  ;  and  casting  my  eyes  on  the  fifth  verse,  read  to  the 
fourteenth.  And  that  moment  I  saw  there  was  some¬ 
thing  in  religion  that  I  was  a  stranger  to.  I  laid  down 
the  Bible,  and  went  directly  up  into  a  private  chamber 
to  seek  the  blessing.  And  everlasting  praises  be  to  Him 
who  has  said,  Seek,  and  ye  shall  find.  I  was  on  my 
knees  but  a  very  few  moments  before  he  shed  abroad  his 

loe  in  such  a  manner  in  my  heart,  that  I  knew  Jesus 

17 


270  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

Christ  was  the  Saviour  of  the  world  and  the  everlasting 
Son  of  the  Father,  and  my  Saviour ;  and  that  I  had  re¬ 
demption  in  his  blood,  even  the  forgiveness  of  my  sins. 
I  felt  these  words  by  the  power  of  his  Spirit  run  through 
my  soul,  so  that  the  tongue  of  a  Gabriel  could  not  have 
expressed  what  I  felt ;  I  have  loved,  thee  with  an  ever¬ 
lasting  love ,  therefore  with  loving -kindness  have  I  drawn 
thee.  I  felt  such  rapture,  and  saw  with  the  eyes  of  my 
soul  such  beauties  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  opened 
such  a  heaven  of  love  in  my  breast,  that  I  could  with  the 
poet  sing  the  following  lines : — 

‘  I  then  rode  on  the  sky, 

Freely  justified  I, 

Nor  did  envy  Elijah  his  seat ; 

My  soul  mounted  higher 
In  a  chariot  of  fire, 

And  the  moon  it  was  under  my  feet.’ 

So  that  being  justified  by  faith,  I  had  peace  with  God, 
through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  I  rejoiced  in  hope  of 
the  glory  of  God.”* 

For  some  time  he  contiuued  in  the  enjoyment  of  the 
Divine  favor,  but  through  the  influence  of  what  he  after¬ 
ward  regarded  as  false  teaching,  respecting  the  deliver- 

*  An  account  of  the  most  remarkable  Occurrences  of  the  Life  of 
Joseph  Everett.  In  a  letter  to  Bishop  Asbury.  Arminian  Maga¬ 
zine,  (American)  vol.  II.  1790. 


SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS. 


271 


ance  of  the  soul  from  the  indwelling  of  sin  in  this  life, 
and  by  neglecting  the  means  necessary  to  the  mainten¬ 
ance  of  a  life  of  piety,  he  relapsed  into  formality  and 
sin.  “I  went,”  he  says,  “to  hear  preaching,  as  usual, 
but  my  conscience  reproached  me  and  told  me  I  was  a 
hypocrite.  I  prayed  in  my  family,  but  no  life — my 
visits  to  my  closet  were  short,  and  very  seldom ;  and, 
withal,  uncomfortable.  I  would  talk  about  religion,  but 
my  heart  was  after  my  idols.  In  plain  truth,  I  lived  in 
such  a  manner  as  I  thought  it  impossible  for  a  Christian 
to  live — though  my  principle  was,  there  was  no  falling 
from  justifying  grace.  And,  indeed,  it  was  impossible 
for  me  to  fall,  for  I  had  shamefully  fallen  already.” 

He  wandered  further  and  further  from  the  way  of 
peace  until  he  was  excluded  from  communion  with  the 
Church,  and  became  an  open,  reckless  transgressor.  At 
the  commencement  of  the  war  of  the  revolution  he  be¬ 
came  a  zealous  whig,  and  volunteered  in  the  service  of 
his  country.  Such  was  his  courage  as  a  soldier,  that  he 
says  before  he  wrould  have  fled  from  the  place  of  action 
or  danger  without  orders,  he  would  have  fallen  dead 
upon  the  spot,  though  his  soul  would  have  been  lost  for 
ever. 

A  man  of  so  brave  and  resolute  a  spirit,  if  he  could 
but  be  properly  enlisted  on  the  side  of  righteousness, 
and  trained  to  use  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  could  not  fail 


272  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

to  make  an  earnest  champion  for  the  truth,  nor  to  endure 
hardness  as  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ.  God  had 
prepared  the  instrumentality  already  by  means  of  which 
he  was  to  be  inducted  into  the  arts  of  a  spiritual  war¬ 
fare,  and  equipped  for  a  sublimer  battle  than  earth’s  he¬ 
roes  ever  fought. 

When  he  returned  from  the  camp  lie  found  that  a 
people  called  Methodists  had  entered  the  neighborhood, 
who  proclaimed  to  the  people  that  they  all  might  be 
saved.  He  did  not  approve  the  doctrine  and  determined 
to  oppose  them,  not  having  “  the  least  thought  that  they 
were  sent  of  God.”  When  opportunity  served  he  did 
not  fail  to  manifest  his  decided  antipathy  to  the  new 
sect,  but  “always,”  he  says,  “behind  their  backs,  or  at 
a  distance.  As  I  have  frequently  seen  since,  our  great¬ 
est  enemies  are  those  who  will  not  hear  us ;  and  if  at 
any  time  they  do  come  out,  they  pay  so  little  attention 
to  what  they  hear,  and  run  away  with  a  sentence  here 
and  there,  that  they  fill  the  hearts  of  the  people  with 
prejudice.” 

In  this  course  he  continued  until  the  spring  of  1778, 
when,  after  considerable  hesitation,  he  was  led  to  go  to 
the  house  of  a  Mr.  White,  one  of  his  neighbors,  to  hear 
a  Methodist  preach.  Mr.  Asbury  was  the  preacher. 
After  singing  and  prayer  he  expounded  the  second  chap¬ 
ter  of  Judges.  There  was  nothing  in  the  exposition  to 


SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS. 


273 


find  fault  with,  he  says,  unless  he  rejected  it  because  the 
speaker  was  a  Methodist.  No  part  of  the  discourse  pro¬ 
duced  any  special  effect  upon  his  conscience,  but  his 
prejudice  was  shaken,  and  henceforth  the  avenues  to  his 
heart  were  open  and  he  found  power  to  pray,  though  for 
twelve  or  fourteen  years  he  had  not  bowed  his  knees  in 
secret. 

He  now  felt  the  return  of  the  Spirit  to  his  heart,  con¬ 
vincing  him  of  sin,  and  empowering  him  to  employ  the 
means  necessary  to  his  salvation.  He  lost  his  attach¬ 
ment  to  the  society  of  the  wicked,  and  also  his  delight 
in  military  affairs.  The  Methodists  noticed  and  encour¬ 
aged  him.  One,  particularly,  who  knew  that  he  held 
Calvinistic  opinions,  used  every  prudent  means  to  ren¬ 
der  his  convictions  effectual,  and  placed  the  writings  of 
Wesley  and  Fletcher  in  his  hands  to  show  him  the  dif¬ 
ference  between  the  Arminian  and  the  Calvinistic  tenets. 
This  he  did  with  such  prudence  “  that  he  entirely  pre¬ 
vented  the  least  prejudice,  and  made  way  for  liberal 
principles  to  take  place.” 

A  single  well-timed  and  apt  remark  is  sometimes  the 
means,  under  God,  of  flashing  the  light  of  volumes  of 
truth  upon  the  inquiring  but  beclouded  understanding. 
So  was  it  with  Everett.  His  Methodist  friend  once  re¬ 
marked  in  his  hearing,  “  that  if  Christ  died  for  all  the 
world,  all  the  world  was  salvable  ;  and  they  that  were 


274  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

lost  were  lost  by  their  own  fault,”  which,  he  says,  gave 
him  a  better  insight  into  the  scheme  of  redemption  than 
all  his  reading,  and  all  the  conversation,  and  preaching 
he  had  ever  heard  had  afforded  him. 

He  became  more  and  more  engaged  to  secure  his  sal¬ 
vation,  which  he  “  found  the  devil  as  much  engaged  to 
prevent.  ’  ’  Often  when  employed  in  devotion  it  would  seem 
as  if  he  could  hear  the  adversary  say,  “  What !  you  are 
at  prayers  again,  are  you?  You  had  better  quit,  for 
after  a  while  you  will  tire  and  leave  off  as  you  did  be¬ 
fore.”  At  the  same  time  he  was  a  by-word  in  the  mouth 
of  the  world.  But  notwithstanding  these  “  fears  within, 
and  lightings  without,”  he  went  forward  in  the  way 
pointed  out  in  the  Divine  word  until  the  fifth  of  April, 
1778,  when  between  seven  and  eight  o'clock  in  the  even¬ 
ing  his  soul  was  again  set  at  liberty,  and  he  rejoiced  in 
the  love  of  God  which  was  shed  abroad  in  his  heart  by 
the  Holy  Ghost. 

He  now  sought  to  find  out  the  truth.  He  read  the  works 
of  Wesley  and  Fletcher,  and  attended  Methodist  preach¬ 
ing.  As  his  peace  had  been  restored,  he  wished  to  know 
how  he  might  preserve  it,  and  in  worshiping  with  the 
Methodists  he  found  comfort  and  strength.  Still  he  did 
not  join  the  society.  His  reason  for  this  was,  he  says  : 
“  I  knew  that  they  were  a  despised  people,  and  thought 
if  I  did  not  join  them  I  might  be  more  useful  when  it 


SKETCHES  OF  FllEACIIERS. 


275 


■was  known  that  I  was  not  a  member  of  their  society. 
But  I  soon  found  this  to  be  very  poor  logic  ;  for  the 
children  of  the  devil  hate  the  light,  let  it  come  from 
Where  it  will.  I  read  Mr.  Wesley  on  perfection;  but 
the  mist  of  Calvinism  wTas  not  altogether  wiped  from  off 
my  mind.  With  the  Calvinists  I  was  taught  that  temp¬ 
tations  were  sin.  I  did  not  attend  to  the  law  of  God  to 
find  out  what  sin  was.  I  could  not  distinguish  between 
sin  and  infirmities,  and  hardly  believe  that  any  Antino- 
mian  can.  They  say  all  we  do  is  sin.  We  are  told  that 
the  sacrifices  of  the  wicked  are  an  abomination  to  the 
Lord.  But  this  is  no  proof  that  the  children  of  God 
commit  sin.  I  believe  with  the  apostle  that  he  that  is 
born  of  God  sinneth  not ; — and  he  that  does  is  of  the 
devil.  I  believe  that  in  every  justified  soul  there  is  the 
root  of  every  iniquity.  Yet  if  he  faithfully  uses  the 
grace  and  power  already  given  to  him,  he  thereby  keeps 
himself  from  transgressing  the  law,  which  alone  is  sin  ; 
and  therefore  the  evil  one,  the  devil,  touches  him  not. 
And  I  believe  that  it  is  the  privilege  of  every  babe  in 
Christ  to  grow  in  grace ;  not  only  to  be  young  men  and 
to  be  strong,  but  to  become  fathers  in  Christ ;  to  receive 
the  fulness  of  all  the  rich  promises  of  the  gospel :  such 
as  the  law  of  God  on  their  hearts  ;  to  love  the  Lord 
with  all  their  soul ;  to  be  dead  to  the  world  and  crucified 
with  Christ,  &c.,  all  which  I  believe  to  be  the  common 


276  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

privileges  of  all  believers  in  this  day ;  though  it  is  to  be 
much  lamented  that  many  live  beneath  them.  And  I 
praise  the  Lord  that  I  am  as  much  confirmed  in  the  doc¬ 
trine  of  full  sanctification,  as  I  am  that  a  man  may 
know  that  his  sins  are  forgiven  on  this  side  the  grave.” 

The  Methodists  invited  him  to  class,  but  did  not  per¬ 
suade  him  to  join.  In  reading,  and  in  conversing  with 
them,  he  “began  to  feel,”  he  says,  “the  necessity  of 
joining  the  society;  which  I  did  with  this  view,  to  grow 
in  grace  myself,  and  to  strengthen  the  hands  of  the 
preachers  in  the  work  of  God,  because  I  thought  it  to  be 
the  will  of  God,  which  ought  to  be  our  end  in  all  we  do. 
I  saw  the  necessity  of  mortifying  the  corrupt  cravings 
of  the  flesh,  as  well  as  using  all  the  means  of  grace,  in 
order  to  be  perfected  in  love ;  which  constitutes  a  Meth¬ 
odist.” 

Having  united  himself  with  the  Methodists,  and  being 
well  pleased  with  their  doctrines  and  discipline,  he  was 
impelled  by  his  zeal  for  the  salvation  of  souls  to  speak 
to  his  acquaintances  on  the  subject  of  religion  and  even 
to  proclaim  publicly  the  gospel  of  reconciliation.  “  Be¬ 
fore  he  had  been  officially  authorized,”  says  Rev.  Wm. 
Ryder,  “  he  commenced  sounding  the  alarm  to  rebellious 
sinners.  He  came  truly  with  the  thunders  of  the  law. 
The  Lord  owned  his  word,  and  many  were  convinced, 


SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS. 


277 


convicted,  and  happily  converted  to  God  through  his 
labors.”* 

Finding  that  his  word  was  rendered  effectual  in  the 
accomplishment  of  good,  he  began  to  be  deeply  exer¬ 
cised  in  mind  about  preaching,  and  these  impressions 
continually  attended  him.  Obstacles,  arising  from  a 
sense  of  his  weakness  and  inability  for  so  important  a 
calling,  rose  before  him,  and  caused  him  to  hesitate. 
“Ten  thousand  difficulties,”  he  says,  “would  shut  up 
the  way,  and  made  it  appear  an  impossibility,  yet  it  con¬ 
stantly  pursued  me.” 

Pedicord  then  traveled  the  circuit  in  which  he  resided, 
of  whom  he  says,  “that  man  of  God;”  and  he  sent  for 
him  to  meet  him  at  an  appointment  in  Delaware.  He 
was  well  acquainted  with  Pedicord  and  complied  with  his 
request.  After  Pedicord  preached  he  asked  Everett  to 
exhort,  which  he  did,  and  before  they  parted  he  gave 
him  a  license  to  exhort. 

He  continued  to  labor  earnestly  and  zealously  for  the 
cause,  attending  at  the  same  time  to  his  secular  employ¬ 
ment,  until  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1780,  when  he 
entered  upon  his  itinerant  career,  as  the  colleague  of 
Pedicord,  on  Dorset  circuit.  Here  his  labors  were 
blessed  of  the  Lord,  and  he  remained  until  February, 
1781,  when  Pedicord  received  a  letter  from  Asbury,  di- 

*  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal,  May  12,  1831. 


278  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

recting  that  Everett  should  go  to  Annamessex  circuit. 
He  accordingly  removed  to  his  new  field  of  labor,  where 
he  proclaimed  the  truth  successfully  until  November, 
when,  as  we  have  seen,  he  was  sent  by  Bishop  Asbury 
to  West  Jersey.  There  he  labored  with  success,  having 
many  seals  to  his  ministry,  until  the  Conference  in  May, 
when  he  was  appointed  to  East  Jersey,  where  he  like¬ 
wise  labored  successfully  until  November,  when  he  went 
to  Philadelphia.  He  remained  there,  the  work  prosper¬ 
ing  meanwhile,  until  the  Conference  in  May,  1783,  when 
he  was  appointed  to  Baltimore.  That  part  of  the  Phila- 
1  delphia  circuit  which  profited  least  under  their  labors, 
he  says,  was  the  city ;  and  for  this  he  assigned  the  fol¬ 
lowing  reason  : — “  They  resemble  too  much  the  Corinth¬ 
ians  ;  one  saying,  I  am  of  Paul,  another,  I  am  of  Apol- 
los,  and  another,  I  am  of  Cephas.  Where  this  is  the 
case  there  are  very  few  to  follow  Christ.  They  are  like 
weathercocks,  which  can  never  be  kept  at  one  point.” 

A  source  of  severe  trial  to  him  in  the  beginning  of 
his  ministry  was  the  opposition  of  his  unconverted  wife, 
who  strongly  disapproved  of  his  traveling.  Notwith¬ 
standing,  he  went  forward  in  the  way  of  duty,  praying 
that  she  might  be  brought  to  a  better  mind.  His  pray¬ 
ers  were  now  answered  in  her  conversion.  “  She  saw,” 
he  says,  “  how  she  had  been  fighting  against  the  Lord, 
in  treating  me  wrongfully ;  which  wounded  her  very 


SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS. 


279 


sensibly;  and  this  was  sweet  revenge  to  me.  Here  I 
saw  the  word  of  the  Lord  was  fulfilled,  to  wit,  ‘  Be  not 
weary  in  well  doing,  for  in  due  season  ye  shall  reap  if 
ye  faint  not.’  That  man  should  alwrays  pray  and  not 
faint.  She  had  no  more  objection  to  my  traveling.” 

His  travels,  as  an  itinerant  preacher,  extended  over  a 
very  large  field,  embracing  appointments  in  Virginia, 
Maryland,  Pennsylvania,  and  New  Jersey.  He  was  or¬ 
dained  a  deacon  in  1786,  and  an  elder  in  1788.  He 
filled  important  appointments  in  the  connection,  includ¬ 
ing  that  of  Presiding  Elder,  in  which  office  he  spent  a 
number  of  years  of  his  ministerial  life.  In  1804  he  was 
so  worn  out  that  he  was  unable  to  perform  effective  labor, 
and  he  was  placed  on  the  superannuated  list,  yet  he  con¬ 
tinued  in  strictest  union  with  his  brethren  of  the  Confer¬ 
ence  until  his  death. 

Everett  was  a  remarkable  man.  In  reviewing  his 
character  and  life,  we  have  been  forcibly  reminded  of 
the  Apostle  Paul.  Some  of  the  distinguishing  traits  in 
the  character  of  the  great  apostle  were  strongly  marked 
in  him.  He  was  a  man  of  dauntless  courage  and  heroic 
bravery,  yet,  at  the  same  time,  he  possessed  a  meekness 
and  tenderness  of  spirit  becoming  the  lowly  disciple  of 
Jesus.  He  was  resolute  and  conscientious  in  the  per¬ 
formance  of  duty,  and  neither  the  threatenings  of  the 
wicked,  nor  the  smiles  of  friends  had  any  influence  to 


280  MEMORIALS  OP  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

turn  him  aside  from  the  path  of  right.  He  went  to 
Dorset  circuit  in  1786,  where  he  found  the  work  of  re¬ 
ligion  declining,  hut  the  failing  embers  soon  broke  forth 
into  a  flame.  This  he  attributed  to  the  excluding  of  un¬ 
worthy  members  and  the  maintaining  of  discipline  in  the 
Church.  “I  view  it,”  he  says,  “  as  a  capital  fault  in  a 
Methodist  preacher  not  to  be  a  disciplinarian ;  and  if 
ever  our  Church  loses  the  life  of  religion,  it  will  be  for 
want  of  discipline.”  Utterances  so  weighty  and  truth¬ 
ful  deserve  to  ring  through  the  Church  like  notes  from 
the  trumpet  of  destiny. 

“Wherever  he  traveled  and  labored,”  say  his  breth¬ 
ren,  “  he  was  like  a  flame  of  fire,  proclaiming  the  thun¬ 
ders  of  Sinai  against  the  wicked,  and  the  terrors  of  the 
Lord  against  the  ungodly.  Few  men  in  the  ministry 
were  ever  more  zealous  and  laborious ;  he  was  bold,  un¬ 
daunted,  and  persevering  in  the  discharge  of  his  various 
ministerial  duties,  and  the  Lord  prospered  his  labors  and 
gave  him  seals  to  his  ministry.  He  was  abundant  in  la¬ 
bors  as  long  as  his  strength  endured.  He  feared  the 
face  of  no  man,  but  sought  the  good  of  all.” 

At  length,  after  a  long  life  of  seventy-seven  years, 
and  a  ministry  of  nearly  thirty  years,  remarkable  for 
activity  and  success,  he  came  down  to  the  verge  of  Jor¬ 
dan.  The  Saviour,  in  whom  he  had  trusted,  and  whose 
presence  had  cheered  him  amid  his  toils  and  trials,  was 


SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS. 


281 


with  him  to  the  last.  The  final  scene  was  one  of  im¬ 
pressive,  of  sublime  Christian  triumph.  “  His  last  ex¬ 
piring  breath,  his  last  articulation  with  the  quivering, 
exhausted  lamp  of  life,  were  devoutly  employed  and 
closed  in  the  solemn  and  pious  exercise  of  giving  honor, 
and  praise,  and  glory  to  God ;  in  the  same  important 
moment,  his  life,  his  breath,  and  his  shouts  were  hushed 
in  the  solemn  silence  of  death,  while  his  enraptured 
spirit  took  its  flight  from  the  tenement  of  clay,  or  earthly 
tabernacle,  to  the  habitation  above,  the  house  not  made 
with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens.”* 

On  the  night  of  his  death,  October  16, 1809,  he  awoke 
from  a  gentle  slumber,  and  with  emotions  of  ecstatic 
rapture  he  shouted,  Glory !  glory  !  glory  !  and  in  this 
holy  and  exultant  exercise,  so  befitting  the  end  of  his 
victorious  career,  he  continued  about  twenty-five  minutes, 
when,  as  the  sound  of  the  last  note  of  triumph  from  his 
lips  died  away  in  the  silence  of  the  chamber  of  death, 
his  purified  and  heroic  spirit  passed  through  the  celestial 
gates,  to  join  the  innumerable  company  of  angels,  and 
the  Church  of  the  first  born  in  heaven. 

*  Minutes  of  Conference,  vol.  I.  pp.  180-81. 


282  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

INCIDENTS  AND  LABORS. 

The  Conference  of  1783  was  held  at  Ellis’s  Preach¬ 
ing-house,  Virginia,  the  6th  of  May.  Of  this  Confer¬ 
ence  Asbury  says,  “  Some  young  laborers  were  taken  in 
to  assist  in  spreading  the  gospel,  which  greatly  prospers 
in  the  north.  We  all  agreed  in  the  spirit  of  African 
liberty,  and  strong  testimonies  were  borne  in  its  favor 
in  our  love-feast;  our  affairs  were  conducted  in  love.” 

The  ministerial  force  in  New  Jersey  was  increased  this 
year,  six  preachers  being  appointed  to  the  State.  Sam¬ 
uel  Rowe,  James  Thomas,  Francis  Spry,  and  William 
Ringold  were  appointed  to  East  Jersey,  and  Woolman 
Hickson  and  John  Magary  to  West  Jersey.  At  this 
Conference  New  Jersey  reported  a  membership  of  one 
thousand  and  twenty-eight,  four  hundred  and  ninety  of 
whom  were  in  West  Jersey,  and  five  hundred  and  thirty- 
eight  in  East  Jersey.  The  number  of  members  in  the 


INCIDENTS  AND  LABORS. 


283 


entire  connection  was  thirteen  thousand,  seven  hundred 
and  forty. 

Methodism  was  now  exerting  such  an  influence  in  dif¬ 
ferent  parts  of  the  State,  that  some  of  the  ministers  of 
other  sects  proclaimed  their  opposition  to  it.  Asbury 
visited  the  southern  part  of  West  Jersey  this  year,  and 
on  Sunday,  the  21st  of  September,  he  was  at  New  Eng- 
landtown,  a  small  village  five  miles  south  of  Bridgeton, 
“but  their  minister,”  he  says,  “had  warned  the  people 
against  hearing  us.”  He  proceeded  the  same  day  to 
Bridgeton,  and  found  that  a  Mr.  Yantull  had  made  an 
appointment  to  preach  at  the  same  hour  as  himself,  al¬ 
though  his  appointment  had  been  published  some  time 
previously.  As  he  arrived  there  before  Yantull,  how¬ 
ever,  he  “preached  in  the  Court-house,  and  cleared  out: 
those  who  remained  met  with  hard  blows.”  Methodism 
did  not  become  established  in  Bridgeton  until  about  twenty 
years  afterward.  The  following  evening  he  was  at  Sa¬ 
lem,  where  he  preached;  a  number  of  Friends  being 
present  and  attending  with  seriousness  upon  the  word. 

The  progress  of  the  cause  in  West  Jersey,  this  year, 
was  not  considerable,  but  it  held  its  own,  and  added 
twenty-three  to  its  membership. 

Rev.  Geo.  A.  Raybold  gives  the  following  concerning 
early  Methodism  in  Atlantic  county,  in  which  were  some 
of  the  first  societies  in  West  Jersey:  “In  early  days, 


284  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

when  Methodism  was  first  introduced  in  the  neighbor¬ 
hood  of  Hammonton,  the  deer  were  so  numerous  that 
they  could  often  be  seen  from  the  doors  of  the  village 
houses.  The  original  proprietor  of  the  property  has 
often  shot  down  with  his  gun  the  stately  buck  or  burly 
bear,  within  a  few  hundred  yards  from  the  dwelling  of 
the  family.  Many  a  thrilling  narrative  of  hunting 
scenes  could  be  recounted,  if  the  recital  would  not  be 
considered  too  much  of  an  episode  in  the  annals  of 
Methodism.  The  preachers  of  those  days  sometimes 
went  out  into  the  deep  forest  to  bring  down  the  deer  for 
the  purpose  of  securing  food  for  their  own  families. 
Old  brother  W.,  a  Jerseyman  by  birth,  was  an  expert 
hunter  of  beasts,  as  well  as  men,  and  this  was  all  right. 
Many  a  rough  hunter  and  woodsman  possessed  and  car¬ 
ried  with  him  constantly  the  gem  of  grace.  Many  a 
rough,  rustic  cabin  of  logs,  contained  a  family  devoted 
to  God,  wherein,  at  stated  intervals,  all  the  members 
gathered  round  the  family  altar,  and  the  social  fireside, 
where  the  huge  pine  logs,  rolled  into  the  vast,  cavern-like 
fireplace,  sent  up  a  ruddy  flame,  augmented  to  a  degree 
of  almost  fierce  brilliancy,  by  the  blaze  of  the  pine 
knots,  gathered  for  the  winter  fire,  and  used  instead  of 
candles.  Perhaps  the  oldest  grave-yard  in  this  part  of 
West  Jersey,  is  that  of  Pleasant  Mills.  Ancient  head¬ 
stones  are  standing  therein,  dated  one  hundred  and  fifty 


INCIDENTS  AND  LABORS. 


285 


years  since.  The  Church  was  erected  on  this  spot  by 
some  of  the  very  first  preachers ;  but  by  which  of  them 
no  record  can  be  found.  The  present  Church  edifice  su¬ 
perseded  a  log  Church  more  than  fifty  years  ago.  The 
very  trees,  the  groves,  and  the  scenery  of  the  river  Mul- 
lica,  all  have  an  ancient  appearance.  To  the  antiquary  it 
is  quite  a  pleasure  to  gaze  upon  those  remains  of  a  past 
age.  And  here  are  found  yet  the  children’s  children  of 
some  of  the  early  Methodists.  Here,  some  of  the  fa¬ 
thers  in  the  ministry  have  held  forth  in  by-gone  days, 
and  scores  have  been  converted  within  the  old  walls  of 
Pleasant  Mills’  Church.  Not  quite  two  miles  distant  is 
the  old  village  of  Batsto,  where  was  an  iron  furnace  long 
before  the  Revolution.  Its  large  mansion-house  is  a 
good  specimen  of  the  aristocratic  style  of  building,  a 
hundred  years  ago ;  and  it  has,  also,  many  dwellings 
built  of  huge  logs,  now  falling  into  decay,  which  were 
put  up  long  ago,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  workmen 
of  the  furnace.  Cannons  were  cast  here  for  the  army 
of  Washington,  and  a  military  corps  was  formed  by  the 
workmen  of  the  village.  Here,  also,  the  venerable  As- 
bury,  in  passing  over  all  parts  of  the  vineyard  of  the 
Lord,  proclaimed  the  glorious  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  and 
in  the  hospitable  mansion  of  Mr.  R.  found  a  most  cordial 
welcome.  This  family,  even  to  the  present  third  genera¬ 
tion,  are  possessors  of  the  immense  estate  originally  pos- 
18 


28G  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

sessed  by  their  ancestor,  and  to  this  day  they  are  hearty 
supporters  of  Methodism.  Amidst  this  village  congre¬ 
gation,  rich  and  poor,  educated  and  illiterate,  all  meet 
as  upon  one  common  platform :  the  wealthy  owners,  and 
their  poorest  workmen,  unite  sincerely  in  the  worship  of 
the  great  God.” 

A  society  must  have  been  formed  at  New  German¬ 
town,  Hunterdon  county,  in  1783  or  some  time  previ¬ 
ously.  A  Quarterly  meeting  was  held  there  about  this 
year  which  was  productive  of  good.  Mr.  Mair,  proba¬ 
bly,  introduced  Methodism  there.  The  love-feast,  which 
Mr.  Ware  has  described,  was  probably  held  in  that 
neighborhood,  or  not  very  far  distant.  A  daughter  of 
Nicholas  Egbert,  who  told  his  experience  in  that  love- 
feast,  professed  religion  about  that  time,  and  after  walk¬ 
ing  more  than  fifty  years  in  the  way  of  life,  peacefully 
finished  her  pilgrimage  in  the  month  of  May,  1837. 

In  East  Jersey,  while  most  of  the  ministers  of  other 
denominations  opposed  Methodism,  some  of  the  Episco¬ 
pal  ministers  were  friendly.  One,  especially,  to  whom 
allusion  has  already  been  made,  the  Rev.  Uzal  Ogden 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  showed  himself  to 
be  the  friend  of  the  weak  and  struggling  cause.  He  re¬ 
sided  at  this  time  at  Newton,  Sussex  county,  and  culti¬ 
vated  a  very  extensive  field,  embracing  about  forty  ap- 


INCIDENTS  AND  LABORS. 


287 


pointments  in  the  counties  of  Sussex,  Morris,  Essex,  and 
Hunterdon,  in  New  Jersey,  and  Northampton,  in  Penn¬ 
sylvania.  He  was  a  successful  minister  of  the  gospel, 
and  an  assistant  and  counselor  of  the  Methodist  preach¬ 
ers.  He  sympathized  with  the  doctrines  of  Methodism, 
as  they  agreed  substantially  with  the  creed  which  he  de¬ 
duced  from  the  Scriptures.  “  When  I  began  to  preach 
the  gospel,”  he  says,  “I  endeavored  to  obtain  a  just 
idea  of  it,  without  regard  to  any  man’s  notions  concern¬ 
ing  it ;  and,  though  I  do  not  mean  to  mention  here  all 
the  conceptions  I  have  of  the  doctrines  of  Christ,  I  shall 
observe,  that  I  think  it  is  incumbent  on  me,  as  a  teacher 
of  religion,  among  other  things  : 

“  1.  To  declare  to  men  their  fall  from  a  state  of  in¬ 
nocence  ;  and  that  in  themselves  they  have  no  ability  to 
regain  that  moral  excellence  which  they  lost,  nor  to  ob¬ 
tain  the  Divine  favor  and  affection. 

“  2.  That  Christ  hath  not  only  made  an  atonement 
for  our  sins,  but  also  merited  for  us  eternal  life. 

“  3.  That  through  the  aids  of  the  Divine  Spirit  alone, 
and  the  means  of  grace,  we  are  enabled  to  accept  of 
salvation  as  offered  in  the  gospel ;  and  obtain  newness 
of  heart,  or  a  qualification  for  celestial  enjoyments. 

“4.  That  every  person  to  whom  the  gospel  shall  be 
preached,  who  shall  die  impenitent,  will  be  most  justly 


288  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

condemned ;  he  giving  the  preference  to  death  when  life 
was  offered  to  him.”* 

His  first  acquaintance  with  the  Methodists,  and  the 
feelings  with  which  he  regarded  them,  are  stated  by  him¬ 
self,  as  follows,  in  a  letter  to  Bishop  Asbury  :  “  A  few 
months  past,  some  of  the  preachers,  styled  Methodists, 
were  recommended  to  me  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Magaw,t  of 
Philadelphia.  Believing,  in  this  day  of  irreligion,  their 
wish  to  advance  the  interests  of  virtue,  I  have  given 
them  such  countenance  and  advice  as  I  deemed  expedi¬ 
ent,  and  I  humbly  hope  and  fervently  pray,  that  they 
and  their  successors  in  this  country  may  be  instrumental 
in  ‘  turning  many  souls  from  darkness  to  light,  and  from 
the  power  of  Satan  unto  God.’ 

“  Oh !  when  shall  prosperity  attend  the  kingdom  of 
the  Prince  of  Peace  ?  When  shall  vice,  religious  preju¬ 
dice,  bigotry,  and  enmity  be  banished  from  the  earth  ? 
When  shall  we  be  Christians  indeed,  possess  the  same 
amiable  and  divine  temper  which  was  in  Christ  Jesus  our 
Lord  ?  Father  of  mercies,  compassionate  a  guilty  world, 
and  make  bare  among  us  the  arm  of  thy  salvation ! 
Pluck,  oh !  pluck  sinners,  through  the  means  of  grace,  as 

*  Methodist  Magazine,  vol.  v.,  p.  384. 

f  Dr.  M’Gaw  was  a  frieud  to  the  Methodists,  and  rendered  them 
ministerial  assistance.  He  was  on  very  friendly  terms  with  Asbury. 
At  one  time  he  was  Rector  of  St.  Paul’s  Church,  Philadelphia. 


INCIDENTS  AND  LABORS. 


289 


brands  from  the  burning,  and  deliver  them  from  the 
wrath  to  come  ! 

“  I  am  happy  to  add  that  your  preachers  here  do 
honor  to  the  cause  they  profess  to  serve ;  and  by  one  of 
them,  my  good  friend  Mr.  Hickson,  I  send  you  a  ser¬ 
mon  just  published,  on  Regeneration,  which  I  beg  your 
acceptance  of.” 

This  letter,  bearing  date  of  April  11th,  1783,  reveals 
the  fact  that  Mr.  Hickson  labored  in  East  Jersey  in  the 
ecclesiastical  year,  1782.  Mr.  Ogden’s  letters  are  our 
authority  for  the  assertion,  elsewhere  made,  that  Hickson, 
Ivy,  and  Mair,  were  the  preachers  that  supplied  the  work 
in  East  Jersey,  after  Tunnell  and  Everett  left  for  the 
Philadelphia  circuit,  in  November  of  that  year.  In  his 
Journal  of  June  2, 1783,  Asbury  acknowledges  the  receipt 
of  this  letter,  and  the  sermon  as  follows  : — “  I  had  the 
pleasure  of  receiving  a  letter  (with  a  sermon)  from  Mr. 
Ogden,  a  man  of  piety,  who,  I  trust,  will  be  of  great 
service  to  the  Methodist  societies,  and  the  cause  of  God 
in  general.”  Before  he  received  this  letter,  however,  he 
wrote  to  Mr.  Ogden,  to  which  the  latter  replied  by  the 
following  epistle,  dated  Newtown,  10th  July,  1783. 

“  Dear  and  worthy  Sir  : — Last  evening  I  was  fa¬ 
vored  with  your  letter  of  the  28th  of  May. 

“I  am  obliged  to  you  for  the  expression  of  friendship 
contained  in  your  epistle,  and  am  happy  that  my  con- 


290  MEMORIALS  OP  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

duct  to  your  people  hath  received  your  approbation. 
My  deportment  towards  them  proceeded,  I  humbly  hope, 
from  the  love  of  God,  which,  for  near  thirty  years,  I 
trust,  though  I  am  not  quite  forty  years  old,  hath  been 
diffused  into  my  heart. 

u  Some  ill-natured  things  have  been  said  of  me  on  ac¬ 
count  of  the  favor  I  have  shown  to  Methodists ;  hut  I 
can  truly  say  that  it  is  a  very  trivial  circumstance,  in 
my  estimation,  thus  to  endure  the  judgment  of  men. 

“  I  do  not  mean,  in  any  instance,  to  omit  an  opportu¬ 
nity  of  advancing  the  Divine  glory  and  the  salvation  of 
mankind,  whatever  may  he  the  consequence  of  such  con¬ 
duct  with  regard  to  myself ;  and  I  do  not  repent  that  I 
have  shown  friendship  to  your  people,  hut  rejoice  in  it, 
as  I  cannot  but  be  of  opinion  that  the  countenance  I 
have  given  them  hath,  in  some  measure,  advanced  the 
interests  of  the  kingdom  of  the  Prince  of  Peace.  And 
I  am  happy  to  mention  that  the  clergy  of  our  Church, 
in  this  state,  are  disposed  to  be  friendly  to  the  Method¬ 
ists  ;  and,  with  cheerfulness,  if  called  on,  will  administer 
to  them  the  Divine  ordinances. 

“  I  cannot  but  applaud  the  unremitted  diligence  of 
yourself  and  those  preachers  of  your  community,  who, 
without  any  worldly  expectations,  ‘go  about  doing 
good regardless  of  danger,  toil,  and  the  reproaches  of 


men. 


INCIDENTS  AND  LABORS. 


291 


“  But  well  you  may  thus  act,  when  you  consider  what 
Christ  hath  done  for  you.  How  ought  we,  indeed,  to 
rejoice,  that  the  merciful  Saviour  deigns  to  employ  us 
in  his  service,  and  that  we  have  an  opportunity  to  evince, 
in  some  sort,  our  gratitude  to  him  who,  in  goodness  inef¬ 
fable,  ‘  hath  loved  us,  and  washed  us’  from  the  pollution 
of  iniquity,  ‘  in  the  fountain  of  his  own  blood,  and 
made  us  kings  and  priests  unto  God  his  Father,  forever 
and  ever !’ 

“  Let  us,  my  dear  sir,  more  and  more,  if  possible, 
contemplate  the  stupendous  love  of  God  towards  us, 
and  our  own  demerits !  Let  us  consider  what  it  hath 
cost  to  redeem  souls,  and  that,  in  a  short  period,  we  must 
‘render  an  account  to  God  of  our  stewardship!’  And, 
impressed  with  these  ideas,  let  us  endeavor  to  be  more 
faithful  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  our  ‘  high  and 
holv  calling.’ 

“  May  we  add  zeal  to  zeal,  diligence  to  diligence,  in 
the  performance  of  the  offices  of  our  vocation ;  and 
when  our  ‘labors  of  love’  shall  cease,  may  we  hear  from 
the  lips  of  our  Divine  Master  the  happy  plaudit,  ‘Well 
done,’  &c. 

“  I  need  not  say  it  would  afford  me  great  pleasure  to 
enjoy  your  conversation.  It  will  not,  however,  be  in  my 
power  to  meet  you  at  the  Bariton.  I  expect  to  be  in 
Newark,  which  is  ten  miles  from  New  York,  the  25th 


292  MEMORIALS  OP  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

and  28th  of  August  next ;  perhaps  at  Newark  I  may 
there  be  favored  with  your  company.” 

Mr.  Ogden  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  and  finally  left 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and  joined  the  Pres¬ 
byterians.  The  Methodist  preachers  found  a  retreat  in 
his  dwelling,  and  enjoyed  with  him  the  delights  of 
Christian  and  ministerial  fellowship.  He  corresponded 
with  several  of  them,  and  his  letters  uniformly  breathe 
the  spirit  of  true  Christian  catholicity,  and  religious  and 
ministerial  devotion.  He  was  the  author  of  several 
publications,  among  which  was  a  treatise  on  Revealed 
Religion,  designed  to  be  an  antidote  to  the  infidel  writ¬ 
ings  of  Paine.  Of  this  work  Asbury  says  ;  “  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Ogden  was  kind  enough  to  present  me  with  his  first 
volume,  On  Revealed  Religion :  it  contains  a  soft,  yet 
general  answer  to  the  deistical,  atheistical  oracle  of  the 
day,  Thomas  Paine ;  it  is  a  most  excellent  compilation, 
taken  from  a  great  number  of  ancient  and  modern 
writers  on  the  side  of  truth ;  and  "will  be  new  to  common 
readers.  So  far  as  I  have  read,  I  can  recommend  it  to 
those  who  wish  for  full  information  on  the  subject.” 
Mr.  Ogden  was,  it  is  said,  a  sound  preacher,  and  rather 
eloquent  in  his  palmy  days.  He  was  also  successful  in 
accomplishing  the  true  end  of  the  ministry,  that  of  sav¬ 
ing  souls. 


INCIDENTS  AND  LABORS. 


293 


We  shall  hereafter  witness  further  illustrations  of  his 
fraternal  sympathy  with  Methodism. 

The  work  appears  to  have  not  advanced  in  East  Jer¬ 
sey,  this  year,  as  there  was  a  decrease  in  that  circuit  of 
eighty-eight  in  the  membership. 


294  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

METHODISM  IN  FLANDERS. 

Flanders,  a  small  village,  beautifully  situated  in  a 
lovely  valley  in  Morris  county,  surrounded  by  majestic 
bills,  and  a  grand  and  varied  natural  scenery,  is  one  of  the 
very  oldest  fortresses  of  Methodism  in  the  eastern  part 
of  the  State.  It  was  about  the  year  1783  that  the 
Methodist  itinerants  began  to  sound  the  trump  of  the 
gospel  there,  which  soon  echoed  among  all  the  sur¬ 
rounding  hills,  and  over  all  the  adjacent  mountain  sum¬ 
mits. 

The  first  Methodist  that  is  known  to  have  dwelt  there 
was  a  lady.  Her  name  was  Mary  Bell.  She  was 
born  in  the  city  of  New  York,  October  25,  1753,  and 
was  awakened  under  the  ministry  of  Joseph  Pillmoor, 
sought  and  obtained  pardoning  and  renewing  grace,  and 
united  with  the  Methodist  society. 

In  the  commencement  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution 
she  suffered  many  hardships,  and  was  finally  pillaged  of 


METHODISM  IN  FLANDERS. 


295 


her  property  by  the  soldiers,  and  to  secure  the  safety  of 
her  person,  she  was  obliged  to  flee  from  the  city,  when 
she  sought  a  refuge  amid  the  tranquil,  yet  inspiring 
scenes  of  the  quiet  valley  of  Flanders.  Here  she  re¬ 
mained  between  thirty  and  forty  years,  when  she  re¬ 
moved  to  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  where,  on  the  19th  of 
August,  1836,  she  finished  her  pilgrimage  and  ascended 
to  her  rest. 

Mrs.  Bell  was  a  Christian  of  high  spiritual  attain¬ 
ments,  and  was  active  and  zealous  in  her  Master’s  ser¬ 
vice.  Her  religious  example  was  a  living,  practical  il¬ 
lustration  of  the  excellence  and  power  of  Christian  faith. 
Though  her  religious  life  was  commenced  in  New  York, 
and  was  consummated  in  her  exaltation  to  glory,  in  Penn¬ 
sylvania,  yet  to  New  Jersey  was  much  of  the  hallowed 
savor  of  that  life  given,  and  how  much  it  contributed  to 
the  success  of  Methodism  in  the  eastern  section  of  our 
State  is  reserved  for  the  disclosures  of  eternity. 

One  of  the  most  important  characters  in  the  early 
Methodism  of  Flanders  was  David  Moore,  the  leader 
of  its  first  class.  He  was  born  at  Morristown,  N.  J., 
November  25,  1749.  At  an  early  age  he  was  bereaved 
of  his  father,  but  being  placed  in  a  pious  family,  he  was 
early  taught  the  fear  of  the  Lord.  When  about  nine¬ 
teen  years  of  age  he  experienced  religion  and  joined  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  He  lived  in  the  fellowship  of 


296  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

this  Church,  an  acceptable  member,  about  fifteen  years. 
He  resided  in  Flanders  when  the  Methodist  preachers 
first  visited  the  place.  He  opened  his  doors  for  preach¬ 
ing,  and  they  continued  to  preach  there  once  in  two 
weeks  for  several  years.  A  society  was  formed,  Avith 
which  he  united,  and  was  appointed  the  leader.  He  ful¬ 
filled  the  responsible  duties  of  this  office  about  sixteen 
years. 

During  his  leadership  the  first  meeting-house  in  Flan¬ 
ders  was  erected,  and  the  society  increased,  so  that  it 
numbered  thirty  members.  It  is  not  known  with  cer¬ 
tainty  in  what  year  the  meeting-house  Avas  built,  hut  it 
was  some  years  before  the  close  of  the  last  century,  and 
was  certainly  not  later  than  1793,*  and,  possibly,  as 
early  as  1785.  It  was,  in  all  probability,  the  first  Church 
erected  in  East  Jersey.  “For  many  years  it  remained 
in  an  unfinished  condition,  without  walls  or  doors,  the 
floor  itself  being  hut  partially  laid,  yet  it  Avas  occupied 
as  a  place  of  worship  every  two  Aveeks.  It  was  finally 
completed  under  the  administration  of  Rev.  Elijah  Wool- 
sey,  who  is  said  to  have  been  a  very  popular  minister.  ”f 
So  strict  Avas  Mr.  Moore  in  attending  Divine  worship 
that  for  seven  years  together  he  was  not  known  to  ne- 

*  See  Christian  Adv.  and  Jour.,  1828,  p.  108. 

f  Reminiscences  of  Methodism  in  Flanders,  prepared  for  the  Avriter 
by  Rev.  Edward  W.  Adams. 


METHODISM  IN  FLANDERS. 


297 


gleet  being  at  this  house  of  prayer,  though  it  was  a  dis¬ 
tance  of  six  miles  from  his  residence. 

In  the  year  1800,  he  removed  with  his  family  to 
Cayuga  county,  New  York.  He  there  united  with  the 
Church,  and  was  soon  appointed  a  Steward,  in  which 
office  he  served  the  Church  more  than  twenty  years, 
when  the  infirmities  of  age  compelled  him  to  resign  his 
charge. 

He  worthily  represented  the  religion  he  professed. 
“Frequently,  when  it  was  mentioned  in  love-feasts, 
‘  Let  him  first  speak  who  feels  most  in  debt  to  grace,’ 
whom  should  we  see  but  father  Moore,  with  streaming 
eyes  and  a  heart  big  with  gratitude  to  God,  saying  that 
he  thought  himself  the  man ;  that  he  had  found  the  Lord 
in  his  youth,  who  had  supported  him  through  middle  age, 
and  was  still  precious  to  him  in  the  decline  of  life?  It 
is  worthy  of  remark,  that  a  little  more  than  a  year  be¬ 
fore  his  death,  he  was  frequently  heard  to  say  he  had 
for  many  years  been  privileged  with  meeting  with  his 
brethren  in  class,  but  he  was  rationally  taught  that  he 
could  not  long  continue  here  ;  that  his  prayer  to  God 
was  that  he  might  live  to  see  one  more  reformation,  and 
so  true  is  that  text,  ‘  The  desire  of  the  righteous  shall 
be  granted  him,’  that  in  the  last  year  of  his  life  he  saw 
a  glorious  work  of  God  in  his  vicinity,  and  more  than 


298  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

thirty  souls  professed  to  be  brought  from  the  kingdom 
of  darkness  to  that  of  God’s  dear  Son ;  and,  although 
in  the  seventy-eighth  year  of  his  age,  he  not  only  saw, 
but  was  engaged  in  it,  for  scarcely  a  meeting  was  held 
in  the  society  but  father  Moore  made  one  of  the  number, 
praying  and  laboring  for  God  and  souls.  With  an  un¬ 
deviating  constancy  and  uniformity  of  life,  he  persisted, 
in  spite  of  age  and  infirmity,  to  shine  with  unabating 
lustre,  until  his  sun  set  in  death.  The  Sabbath  before 
his  death,  in  love-feast,  he  rose  and  said,  that  for  more 
than  fifty-eight  years  the  Lord  had  been  with  him.  On 
Thursday  morning  following,  about  one  o’clock,  he  was 
violently  attacked  with  excruciating  pains,  which  greatly 
alarmed  his  family.  A  physician  was  immediately  called, 
but  to  no  effect.  He  must  take  his  departure.  And 
was  he  ready  ?  Hear  his  own  words :  ‘  I  thought  I 
should  not  live  till  morning,  and  oh,  how  should  I  feel 
if  I  had  no  hope?  Bless  the  Lord!’  Soon  after  his 
speech  began  to  fail.  He  said,  1  I  have  nothing  here,’ 
and  continued  to  repeat  it  several  times,  when  one  pre¬ 
sent  asked  him  if  he  would  wish  to  say, 

‘  I've  nothing  here  deserves  my  joys, 

There’s  nothing  like  my  God,’ 


to  which  he  assented.  On  Saturday  evening,  Dec.  15th, 


METHODISM  IN  FLANDERS. 


299 


1827,  about  half  past  eight  o’clock,  lie  ceased  to  live  as 
an  inhabitant  of  earth.”* 

The  reader  'will  be  interested  in  the  following  reminis¬ 
cences  of  early  Methodism  in  Flanders,  from  the  pen  of 
Rev.  E.  W.  Adams : 

“  In  those  days  to  kneel  during  prayer,  and  stand 
during  the  singing  were  sufficiently  contrary  to  general 
usage  to  bring  down  upon  those  guilty  of  such  supposed 
irregularities,  severe  persecution  from  the  opponents  of 
Methodism. 

“  Miss  Baxter,  afterwards  the  wife  of  Judge  Monroe, 
and  mother-in-law  to  Rev.  M.  Force,  was  one  of  the 
earliest,  and  most  devoted  members  of  our  Church  in 
this  vicinity.  Subsequently  to  her  marriage  she  was 
much  opposed  by  her  husband  on  account  of  her  Meth- 
odistic  principles.  This  was  carried  to  such  an  extent 
that  for  peace  sake  she  agreed  to  unite  with  the  Presby¬ 
terian  Church.  But  she  found,  after  all,  that  to  change 
her  Church  relation  was  not  an  easy  matter.  She  had 
no  rest  day  or  night.  In  the  mean  time  the  pastor,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Fordham,  being  notified  of  her  intention, 
called  to  see  her.  She  frankly  told  him  £  that,  after  all, 
she  did  not  know  what  to  do,  she  could  not  believe  their 
doctrines .’  He  replied,  c  If  you  cannot  conscientiously 
subscribe  to  them,  I  do  not  wish  you  to  do  so.’  Still, 

*  Obituary  notice  in  Christian  Adv.  and  Jour.,  March  7,  1828. 


300  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

by  her  husband  and  others,  she  was  urged  to  relinquish 
Methodism.  About  this  time  she  was  taken  seriously 
ill.  It  was  supposed  she  must  die.  But  one  day,  as 
her  husband  came  to  her  bedside,  addressing  him,  she 
said,  ‘  Monroe,  I  am  impressed  with  the  thought,  that  if 
you  will  cheerfully  allow  me  to  continue  a  Methodist, 
the  Lord  will  restore  me  to  health.  I  believe  he  will  do 
it.’  Recognizing  the  probable  cause  of  her  sickness,  he 
answered,  1  Woman,  I  have  nothing  more  to  say.  Do  as 
you  please.’  In  a  few  hours  her  fever  abated,  she  was 
restored  to  health,  and  lived  and  died  a  worthy  member 
of  the  Church  of  her  choice. 

“  There  was  no  place  in  the  neighborhood  where  a 
Methodist  preacher  could  find  entertainment ;  conse¬ 
quently  they  had  to  ride  a  distance  of  seven  miles  after 
preaching,  in  order  to  find  a  stopping  place.  At  this 
period  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bostwick*  was  one  of  the  circuit 
preachers.  While  holding  meeting  on  one  occasion,  his 
horse  being  hitched  a  short  distance  from  the  Church, 
and  near  the  residence  of  Mr.  Monroe,  the  latter  con¬ 
cluded  that  he  would  take  pity  on  the  horse  and  give  him 
something  to  eat,  not  intending,  however,  to  invite  the 
preacher.  He  put  the  animal  in  the  stable  and  fed  him, 

*  Mr.  Bostwick  travelled  Flanders  circuit  in  1794.  It  is  probable, 
therefore,  that  the  fact  mentioned  by  Mr.  Adams  occurred  in  that 
year. 


METHODISM  IN  FLANDERS. 


301 


sending  word  to  the  minister  where  he  might  find  his 
horse.  Upon  further  meditation,  he  concluded  that  for 
once  he  would  ask  the  preacher  himself  to  come  and 
take  something  to  eat ;  which  invitation  was  gladly  ac¬ 
cepted.  When  the  other  preacher*  came  round,  Mr.  M. 
thought  he  would  not  show  partiality,  so  he  invited  him 
in  like  manner'.  But  the  early  Methodist  itinerants  un¬ 
derstood  human  nature,  and  knew  how  to  improve  a 
providential  opening.  Accordingly,  when  Mr.  Bostwick 
came  round  again,  he  at  once  came  to  Mr.  Monroe’s, 
who  subsequently  became  a  valuable  member  of  the  M. 
E.  Church,  and  for  fifty  years  furnished  a  comfortable 
home  for  Methodist  traveling  preachers. 

“  At  this  same  time  there  was  living  in  the  place  a 
man  of  considerable  means,  who  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  but  refused  to  take  in  the  preachers, 
fearing  it  would  be  too  heavy  a  burden.  Some  time 
after  this  he  sold  out,  and  moved  to  Sussex,  and  there 
purchased  considerable  property.  But  it  seemed  as 
though  the  hand  of  God  was  upon  him.  His  family 
was  much  afflicted,  and  finally  he  disposed  of  his  pos¬ 
sessions  there  at  a  sacrifice,  came  back  to  Flanders,  paid 
an  advanced  price  for  his  former  property,  and  ulti¬ 
mately  died  in  limited  circumstances. 

*  According  to  the  minutes,  Samuel  Coate  was  the  colleague  of 

Mr.  Bostwick. 

19 


302  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


“  Col. - was  a  man  of  note,  and  of  large  means 

in  this  neighborhood.  Hearing  that  Mr.  Monroe  had  in¬ 
vited  the  Methodist  preachers  to  his  house,  he  came  to 
advise  him  on  the  subject.  Among  other  things,  he  said, 
‘  If  you  tolerate  these  Methodist  preachers  on  your 
premises,  they  will  ride  you  to  death.’  This  man  ran 
through  all  his  property,  and  died  in  abject  poverty. 
On  the  other  hand,  Judge  Monroe  declared  that  from  the 
time  he  took  in  the  Methodist  preachers,  God  seemed  to 
prosper  him  in  every  respect.  After  a  long  life  of  lib¬ 
erality  and  usefulness,  he  died  in  affluent  circumstances, 
and  even  now  his  name  is  as  ‘  ointment  poured  forth.’  ” 
The  old  Church  in  Flanders,  in  which  so  many  of  the 
early  Methodists  of  East  Jersey  worshiped,  and  so  many 
of  the  early  heroes  of  Methodism  proclaimed  the  gospel, 
and  which  was  honored  as  the  spiritual  birth-place  of 
many  now  in  glory,  stood  until  1857,  when,  through  the 
skilful  management  and  indefatigable  efforts  of  the  Rev. 

J.  B.  Heward  and  Rev.  M.  Force  it  was  substituted  bv  a 

«/ 

new  and  beautiful  house  of  worship,  with  a  spire  and 
bell,  which  is  an  ornament  to  the  village,  and  a  credit  to 
Flanders  Methodists. 


SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS. 


303 


CHAPTER  XV. 

SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS. 

The  name  of  Samuel  Rowe  is  first  on  the  list  of 
those  who  were  appointed  to  labor  in  East  Jersey  in  the 
year  1783.  He  was  admitted  on  trial  at  the  Confer¬ 
ence  of  1779,  and  appointed  to  Amelia,  Virginia.  His 
appointment  in  1780  is  not  designated  in  the  minutes, 
but  on  the  12th  of  November  of  that  year,  Ashury 
writes :  “I  am  kept  in  peace  of  soul ;  expecting  my 
ministering  brethren,  that  we  may  consult  about  the  work 
of  God.  Samuel  Roe  is  going  to  Sussex — one  that  has 
happily  escaped  the  separating  spirit  and  party  in  Vir¬ 
ginia,  and  the  snares  laid  for  his  feet.”  In  1781  he  was 
sent  to  Pennsylvania;  1782,  Dorchester,  Md. ;  1783, 
East  Jersey;  1784,  West  Jersey.  In  1785  he  located. 

Speaking  of  the  location  of  ministers,  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Ware  says,  “  The  first  on  this  list,  after  the  or¬ 
ganization  of  the  Church  in  1784  was  Samuel  Row.* 

*  The  orthography  of  the  Dame  is  not  uniform.  In  the  minutes  it 
is  spelled  Rowe ;  by  Asbury,  Roe;  and  by  Ware,  Lee,  and  Bangs,  Row . 


304  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

He  had  traveled  five  years.  Three  desisted  from 
traveling  in  1785;  but  Row  was  the  most  conspicuous 
of  the  number.  He  was,  while  with  us,  a  man  of  amia¬ 
ble  and  dignified  manners,  both  as  a  Christian  and  a 
minister.  He  had  the  most  tenacious  and  retentive 
memory  of  any  man  I  ever  knew ;  and  the  use  he  made 
of  this  noble  faculty  evinced  that  the  bent  of  his  youth¬ 
ful  mind  had  been  toward  piety.  He  thought,  as  he 
used  sometimes  to  say,  if  the  Bible  were  lost,  he  could 
replace  by  his  memory  the  four  Evangelists,  the  Acts  of 
the  Apostles,  the  Epistle  to  the  Romans,  and  the  greater 
part  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews.  He  was  a  great  ad¬ 
mirer  of  Young’s  Night  Thoughts,  and  never  did  I  hear 
any  person  repeat  them  with  such  effect.  He  was  much 
admired  by  many  as  a  preacher ;  but  some  believed  he 
dealt  too  much  in  flowers  and  in  other  men’s  thoughts.” 

James  Thomas  stands  in  the  minutes  as  continued  on 
trial,  in  1783,  and  was  appointed  to  East  Jersey;  his 
appointment  for  1784  is  not  ascertained;  in  1785  he 
was  appointed  to  Philadelphia,  which  was  his  last  ap¬ 
pointment.  Before  the  next  Conference  he  had  finished 
his  course.  He  was  an  amiable  and  sprightly  young 
man,  and  esteemed  as  a  good  preacher.  The  obituary 
notice  of  him  in  the  minutes  is  as  follows :  “  James 
Thomas, — a  pious  young  man,  of  good  gifts,  useful  and 


SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS. 


305 


acceptable,  blameless  in  his  life,  and  much  resigned  in 
his  death.” 

Francis  Spry  was  received  on  trial  at  the  Conference 
of  1783,  and  appointed  to  East  Jersey;  his  appoint¬ 
ments  for  1784-5-6  are  not  given  in  the  minutes ;  in 
1787  he  was  appointed  to  Caroline,  Md. ;  in  1788  he 
was  appointed  to  Baltimore  with  Ezekiel  Cooper.  Dur¬ 
ing  this  Conference  year  he  finished  his  labors.  It  is 
said  of  him,  in  the  obituary  notice  of  him  in  the  minutes, 
that  he  wTas  “  skillful  and  lively  in  his  preaching,  sound 
in  judgment,  holy  in  his  life,  placid  in  his  mind;  of  un¬ 
shaken  confidence  and  patience  in  his  death.” 

The  name  of  William  Ringold  appears  on  the  min¬ 
utes  of  1783  for  the  first  time.  In  1784  he  was  ap¬ 
pointed  to  Somerset,  Md. ;  in  1785,  to  Frederick,  Md. ; 
in  1786  he  located.  We  regret  that  we  have  no  further 
knowledge  concerning  him. 

Woolman  Hickson  was  received  on  trial  at  the  Con¬ 
ference  of  1782  and  appointed  to  Somerset,  Md.,  but 
was  afterward  changed,  there  is  reason  to  believe,  to 
East  Jersey;  in  1783  he  was  appointed  to  West  Jersey; 
in  1784,  to  Orange,  Virginia;  in  1785,  Georgetown;  in 
1786,  Baltimore.  On  the  24th  of  December  of  this 
year  he  was  ordained  elder  by  Bishop  Asbury.  His  ap¬ 
pointment  for  1787  is  not  given  in  the  minutes,  but  we 
learn  from  Rev.  J.  B.  Wakeley’s  “Lost  Chapters”  that 


306  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

lie  labored  in  the  city  of  New  York  that  year.  Mr. 
Wakeley-  says  that  Baltimore  was  the  last  station  to 
which  he  was  regularly  appointed,  and  in  consequence 
of  failing  health  he  was  left  without  an  appointment  in 
178T,  but  one  of  the  preachers  appointed  to  New  York 
failing  to  fill  his  appointment,  Mr.  Hickson  labored  there 
in  his  place. 

While  in  New  Jersey,  Mr.  Hickson  enjoyed  the  ac¬ 
quaintance  and  friendship  of  the  Rev.  Uzal  Ogden,  and 
corresponded  with  him.  He  appears  to  have  stood  high 
in  Mr.  Ogden’s  confidence  and  regards.  In  a  letter 
bearing  date  of  25th  April,  1783,  addressed  to  Mr. 
Hickson,  Mr.  Ogden  says :  “  Your  kind  letter  I  have 
received  by  Mr.  Mair,  and  it  is  with  pleasure  I  now  de¬ 
vote  a  moment  in  this  way,  to  converse  with  you. 

“Believe  me,  Mr.  Hickson,  I  have  a  most  affectionate 
regard  for  you.  Your  many  good  and  engaging  quali¬ 
ties  attach  you  to  me  very  sensibly ;  and,  c  though  absent 
in  body,  I  shall  often  be  present  with  you  in  spirit;’  and, 
I  hope,  not  unmindful  of  you  in  my  addresses  to  our 
heavenly  Father.  And,  0  !  Sir,  let  me  be  so  happy  as 
to  be  favored  and  that  continually,  with  an  interest  in 
your  petitions  at  the  throne  of  Divine  grace  ! 

“  I  cannot  but  admire  your  zeal  in  forsaking  all 
earthly  considerations,  all  worldly  connections  and 
prospects,  for  Jesus  !  and  that  too  in  the  flower  of  youth  ! 


SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS. 


307 


The  sacrifice,  on  your  part,  is  great ;  but  remember  the 
oblation  of  our  blessed  Saviour  was  infinitely  superior  to 
this.  And  as  he  hath  ‘bought  us  with  a  price,’ — a  price 
above  all  earthly  computation,  let  us  consider  that  we 
are,  indeed,  his  in  every  respect,  and  rejoice  to  render 
him  his  own.  And  is  it  not  an  honor,  an  unspeakable 
favor,  that  he  will  graciously  compensate  our  imperfect 
services  with  a  reward  that  is  ineffable,  divine,  eternal  ? 
Though  conscious,  ‘  when  we  have  done  all  which  is  in 
our  power  to  do  for  God,  we  are  but  unprofitable  serv¬ 
ants,’  yet  are  we  permitted  to  have  ‘respect  to  the  re¬ 
compense  of  reward.’  Let  this  support  us  under  every 
pressure  of  affliction ;  knowing  that  tribulation,  also,  will 
‘  work  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of 
glory !’  Let  the  thoughts  of  a  celestial  crown  animate 
us,  likewise,  to  act  with  redoubled  vigor  in  the  service 
of  our  Divine  Master.  And,  oh  !  let  us  consider  that 
his  eye  is  ever  upon  us,  and  that  he  will  demand — with 
severity  demand — an  improvement  of  each  talent  com¬ 
mitted  to  our  care.  Let  us  be  mindful  of  the  day 
wherein  we  must  ‘render  an  account  of  our  stewardship;’ 
consider  the  happiness  of  the  plaudit,  ‘Well  done,  thou 
good  and  faithful  servant;  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy 
Lord !’  And  contemplate  the  unhappiness  of  the  sen¬ 
tence,  ‘  0  !  thou  wicked  and  slothful  servant,’  &c. 


308  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

“  But  let  me  reply  to  some  particulars  in  your  letter. 
I  rejoice  in  the  prosperity  of  religion  at  the  southward ; 
and  to  be  informed  that  my  sermon  at  Black  river 
against  bigotry  hath  been  useful. 

“  I  suppose  some,  perhaps  many,  unfriendly  things  are 
spoken  of  me  on  account  of  the  countenance  I  show 
your  people ;  but  I  can  truly  say,  ‘it  is  a  small  matter 
with  me,  to  be  thus  judged  of  man’s  judgment.’  I  trust, 
in  this  instance,  I  have  a  conscience  void  of  offence  to¬ 
wards  God,  and  all  rational,  pious  men. 

“  I  have  formed  some  religious  societies,  and  believe 
they  will  be  singularly  useful,  and  prosper  in  the  Lord ; 
they  are,  however,  evil  spoken  of  by  some,  by  reason  it 
is  by  them  conceived  they  are  Methodistical.  How 
dreadful  to  the  ears  of  some  persons,  is  the  word  Meth¬ 
odist .” 

This  epistle  shows  that  the  Methodists  had  to  contend 
against  much  opposition  in  laboring  for  the  salvation  of 
the  people  in  New  Jersey. 

We  will  give  one  other  letter  addressed  by  Mr.  Ogden 
to  Mr.  Hickson,  which  is  of  historical  importance  in  our 
work.  It  bears  date  of  September  4th,  1T83,  and  also 
the  following  inscription : 


SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS. 


309 


“TO  MR.  WOOLMAN  HICKSON,  A  METHODIST  PREACHER, 
NOW  IN  THE  COUNTY  OF  CAPE  MAY,  IN  JERSEY.” 

“Dear  and  worthy  sir: — Your  kind  letter  of  the 
21st  of  June  last,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  a  few 
days  ago.  I  was  happy  to  be  informed  that  Mr.  Hick¬ 
son,  who  is  still  high  in  my  esteem,  was  in  the  enjoy¬ 
ment  of  health,  and  that  his  friends  and  relatives  wbre 
also  well.  May  every  blessing  attend  him  and  them,  in 
such  manner  as  shall  seem  meet  to  Divine  wisdom. 

“  I  cannot  say  I  have  had  great  trials,  in  the  manner 
you  fear ,  since  I  was  at  the  Quarterly  meeting  at  Ger¬ 
mantown  ;  but  am  happy  to  mention  that  I  hear  this 
meeting  hath  been  blest  to  many  persons  ;  and  I  rejoice 
to  be  told  that  your  Annual  Conference  wTas  so  agree¬ 
able. 

“  With  us,  religion,  in  several  places,  flourishes.  At 
Mr.  Howell’s,  a  few  months  past,  I  admitted  about  fifty 
persons  to  the  Lord’s  table  on  one  day,  who  before  had 
not  approached  this  blessed  ordinance.  May  num¬ 
bers  daily,  in  every  place,  be  added  to  the  Church  of 
Christ. 

“  I  am  happy  you  have  found  some  of  our  clergy  to 
the  southward,  who  are  disposed  to  countenance  your 
preachers  in  their  attempts  to  reclaim  sinners  from  the 
error  of  their  ways.  And  why  should  not  the  ministers 


310  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

of  the  gospel  of  every  denomination,  rejoice  to  have  it 
in  their  power  to  do  good  ;  to  demolish  the  empire  of  sin 
and  Satan,  and  to  give  prosperity  to  the  kingdom  of  the 
Prince  of  Peace  ?  I  do  not,  in  any  sort,  repent  of  the 
favor  I  have  shown  the  Methodists ;  but  regard  it  as  a 
happiness,  that  through  them,  I  have  had  it  in  my  power 
to  aid  the  cause  of  religion. 

“  You  inform  me  that  many  of  the  people  of  Mary¬ 
land  request  I  would  visit  them ;  that  you  think  my  la¬ 
bors  among  them  would  be  blest ;  and  that  they  -would 
make  most  ample  provision  for  my  support,  if  I  could 
settle  with  them.  As  to  my  moving  from  Sussex,  money 
would  not  induce  me  to  do  this.  I  am  here,  I  think, 
very  useful ;  and  as  long  as  I  can  obtain  a  maintenance 
for  my  family,  among  these  indigent,  but  affectionate 
people,  it  will  not,  I  conceive,  be  my  duty  to  leave 
them  :  and,  as  to  my  visiting  the  peninsula,  this  would 
be  very  agreeable  to  me,  but  I  do  not  think  it  will  be  in 
my  power  to  effect  it,  especially  this  fall,  as  my  labors 
here  daily  increase ;  and  as  my  appointments  to  preach 
the  gospel,  in  various  parts  of  this  State,  now  extend  to 
about  two  months  to  come.  However,  if  possible,  I 
shall  endeavor  to  comply  with  this  request  next  spring  ; 
and  as  Mr.  Roe  gives  us  some  hopes  that  you  will 
soon  ride  in  this  circuit,  wre  shall  then  confer  on  the 
subject. 


\ 


SKETCHES  OF  PREACHERS. 


311 


#  “  I  applaud  the  continuance  of  your  zeal  to  promote 
the  interests  of  Christianity,  and  ardently  pray  that  you 
may  ever  enjoy  the  Divine  presence  and  protection. 

“  Believe  me  to  be, 

“  Dear  and  worthy  sir, 

“  Your  sincere  friend 

“And  very  humble  servant, 

“Uzal  Ogden.” 

Mr.  Hickson,  it  is  said,  introduced  Methodism  into 
the  .city  of  Brooklyn,  L.  I.  “  Captain  Webb  had 
preached  there  many  years  before,  but  he  formed  no 
class.  Mr.  Hickson’s  first  sermon  in  Brooklyn  was  de¬ 
livered  in  the  open  air,  from  a  table,  in  what  is  called 
Sands  street,  directly  in  front  of  where  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  nowT  stands.  At  the  close  of  his  ser¬ 
mon  Mr.  Hickson  said  that  if  any  person  present  would 
open  his  house  for  preaching,  he  would  visit  them  again. 
A  gentleman,  by  the  name  of  Peter  Cannon,  accepted 
the  offer,  and  promised  to  prepare  a  place  for  the  recep¬ 
tion  of  the  congregation.  This  place  was  no  other  than 
a  cooper’s  shop.  In  a  short  time  Mr.  Hickson  formed  a 
class  of  several  members.  This  was  the  first  class  formed 
in  Brooklyn.”* 

Mr.  Hickson  was  ardently  devoted  to  the  cause  and 
*  Wakeley’s  “  Lost  Chapters.” 


312  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

work  of  God.  Though  sinking  under  the  wasting  power 
of  consumption,  he  contemplated  going  to  Nova  Scotia 
to  labor  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  and  Bishop  Asbury 
found  it  necessary  to  prevent  him.  He  possessed  fine 
capabilities  for  usefulness,  but  he  soon  finished  his  work 
and  gained  his  reward.  “His  last  labors,”  says  Lee,* 
“  were  mostly  in  the  country,  a  small  distance  from  New 
York,  and  on  the  east  side  of  the  North  river.  He  then 
returned  to  the  city  of  New  York,  and  died;  and  was 
buried  in  the  city.”  The  society  there  provided  him  a 
nurse  in  his  last  sickness,  and  gave,  also,  to  defray  the 
expense  of  his  funeral.  Poverty,  exposure,  and  hard 
toil  were  the  portion  of  the  Methodist  itinerant  in  those 
days.  Hickson  gained  not  earthly  treasures  in  his  la¬ 
borious  life  as  a  minister,  but  his  crown  is  as  bright  and 
his  rest  is  as  sweet  in  heaven  as  if  he  had  died  possessed 
of  wealth.  The  brief  memorial  of  him  in  the  minutes 
is  as  follows  : — 

“Woolman  Hickson: — of  promising  genius,  and  con¬ 
siderable  preaching  abilities ;  upright  in  life,  but  soon 
snatched  away  from  the  work  by  a  consumption,  and  in 
the  midst  of  his  usefulness : — seven  years  in  the  work.” 

He  is  thus  described  by  Rev.  Thomas  Ware : — 

“Woolman  Hickson,  distinguished  by  his  thirst  for 
knowledge,  both  human  and  divine,  traveled  our  circuit 


*  History  of  the  Methodists. 


SKETCHES  OP  PREACHERS. 


313 


soon  after  I  became  a  Methodist ;  and  from  his  excel¬ 
lent  example  I  profited  much.  Few  men  among  us  ever 
observed  with  greater  exactness  ‘the  rules  of  a  preacher,’ 
especially  these: — ‘Be  diligent.  Never  be  unemployed. 
Never  be  triflingly  employed.  Be  serious.  Let  your 
motto  be,  Holiness  unto  the  Lord.  Avoid  all  lightness, 
jesting,  and  foolish  talking.’  Having  a  strong  and  dis¬ 
criminating  mind,  by  his  diligence  and  application  ac¬ 
cording  to  these  rules,  he  could  not  but  make  proficiency 
both  in  gifts  and  grace.  But  his  physical  powers  were 
feeble  ;  and  nothing  but  a  miracle,  with  the  exertion  he 
made,  could  save  him  from  an  early  grave.  Accordingly 
the  term  of  his  labors  was  short.  But  to  such  a  man  as 
Hickson  it  must  be  ‘gain’  to  ‘die.’  ” 

The  name  of  John  Magary  first  appears  in  the  min¬ 
utes  in  1782,  and  his  appointment  that  year  was  to  Som¬ 
erset,  Md.  ;  in  1783  he  was  appointed  to  West  Jersey; 
1784  to  Frederick,  Md.  His  name  now  disappeared 
from  the  minutes.  He  was  an  Englishman  and  returned 
to  Europe. 

In  September,  1784,  Mr.  Wesley  says,  “I  had  a  long 
conversation  with  John  Magary,  one  of  our  American 
preachers.  He  gave  a  pleasing  account  of  the  work  of 
God  there  continually  increasing,  and  vehemently  im¬ 
portuned  me  to  pay  one  more  visit  to  America  before  I 


314  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

• 

die.”  In  1787  Dr.  Coke  informed  Mr.  Garrettson,  in  a 
letter,  that  he  had  been  sent  by  Mr.  Wesley  to  New 
Foundland;  but  in  1788  Mr.  Wesley  mentions  a  Mr. 
Magary  as  principal  of  the  Kingswood  school,  which  may 
have  been  the  same  person. 


THE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1784-5. 


815 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1784-5. 

The  Conference  was  held  this  year  at  Ellis’s  Preach¬ 
ing-house,  in  Virginia,  on  the  30th  and  31st  days  of 
April,  and  adjourned  to  Baltimore  the  latter  part  of 
May.  “It  was,”  says  Lee,  “considered  as  but  one 
Conference,  although  they  met  first  in  Virginia  and  then 
adjourned  to  Baltimore,  where  the  business  was  finished.” 
The  “  business  was  conducted  with  uncommon  love  and 
unity,”  says  Asbury  of  the  Conference  in  Virginia. 
East  Jersey  reported  450  members,  and  West  Jersey  513. 
The  appointments  for  New  Jersey  were  as  follows  :  East 
Jersey,  Samuel  Dudley,  William  Phoebus.  West  Jersey, 
Samuel  Rowe,  William  Partridge,  John  Fidler.  Tren¬ 
ton,  John  Haggerty,  Matthew  Greentree. 

Asbury  traversed  the  greater  portion  of  the  State  this 
year,  looking  after  the  interests  of  the  work.  He 
preached  at  Burlington  and  Trenton,  and  also  visited 
Newton,  Sussex  county,  and  preached  in  the  Court- 


316  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

house.  He  was  kindly  entertained  by  Mr.  Ogden. 
While  in  this  region  he  preached  at  a  place  called  New 
Market  Plains,  to  about  a  hundred  people,  and  spoke 
freely  in  vindication  of  Methodism.  He  regarded  this 
as  a  singular  circumstance,  as  he  did  not  know  till  after¬ 
ward  that  there  were  those  present  who  did  not  attend 
at  other  times.  He  proceeded  to  New  York  by  way  of 
Newark,  and  afterward  went  to  West  Jersey,  visiting 
and  preaching  at  several  places,  including  Penny  Hill, 
New  Mills,  and  IPaddonfield.  At  this  last  place  he 
“  found  a  dearth.  A  poor  sot  came  in  and  muttered 
awhile;  after  meeting  he  acknowledged  he  was  a  sinner, 
and  seemed  sorry  for  his  conduct,  drunk  as  he  was.” 

About  the  year  1625,  the  time  of  the  great  persecu¬ 
tion  of  the  Puritans,  a  number  of  persons  fled  from 
England  to  seek  a  refuge  and  a  home  in  the  new  world. 
The  way  in  which  they  effected  their  escape  was  by  rais¬ 
ing  a  leaky  vessel  which  was  sunk  in  a  dock,  stopping 
the  leak,  fitting  her  out  indifferently,  and  setting  sail  in 
the  night.  Directing  their  course  toward  the  western 
continent,  they  found  themselves  the  following  morning 
but  a  short  distance  from  the  land.  Their  enemies  were 
unable  to  discover  them,  however,  in  consequence  of  a 
thick  fog  which  had  risen  between  them  and  the  shore, 
and  which  remained  until  they  had  sailed  beyond  the 
reach  of  their  vision.  They  were  favored  with  a  safe 


THE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1784-5. 


317 


voyage  until  they  reached  their  desired  haven  which 
seems  to  have  been  New  York  bay.  “  The  ship  grounded 
on  the  shoals  of  Amboy.”  After  discharging  her 
noble  cargo,  without  any  loss  of  life  she  sunk  at  once 
into  the  deep.  It  is  said  they  purchased  lands  from  the 
Indians,  the  title  for  which  was  afterward  ratified  by 
Great  Britain.  It  is  believed  that  Elizabethtown,  N.  J., 
stands  upon  ground  included  in  this  purchase. 

Methodism  was  introduced  into  Elizabethtown  during 
the  present  ecclesiastical  year.  The  Rev.  Uzal  Ogden 
was  at  that  time  pastor  of  the  Episcopal  Church  there. 
When  the  Methodist  preachers  visited  the  town  he  gave 
them  a  kind  reception,  and  “gladly  united  with  them  in 
preaching  a  crucified  and  risen  Saviour  to  perishing  sin¬ 
ners.  A  gracious  work  of  God  directly  ensued.” 

One  of  the  laborers  in  this  new  movement  was  Elias 
Crane,  a  descendant  of  Stephen  Crane,  one  of  the  com¬ 
pany  above  mentioned,  who  fled  from  persecution  in 
England,  and  landed  in  New  Jersey.  Elias  was  awak¬ 
ened  under  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Ogden,  sought  and  ob¬ 
tained  religion,  and  united  with  Mr.  Ogden’s  Church. 
This  was  a  short  time  previously  to  the  introduction  of 
Methodism  there.  Now  that  the  Methodist  preachers 
proclaimed  a  present  and  impartial  salvation  to  the  peo¬ 
ple  of  Elizabeth,  he  “went  out  into  the  streets  and  lanes 

of  the  city,  to  hunt  up  the  poor,  the  maimed,  the  halt, 
20 


318  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

and  blind,  and  invited  them  to  the  gospel  feast ;  and  thus 
in  early  life  contracted  that  useful  habit  of  laboring  with 
mourners  in  Zion,  in  which  pious  and  highly  honorable 
work  he  was  pre-eminently  useful.”  In  1788  he  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Dr.  Eliliu  Lassell  of  Elizabeth.  In 
1791  he  removed  to  Uniontown,  Pa.,  and  with  his  compan¬ 
ion  united  with  the  Church  in  that  place.  He  was  soon  after 
appointed  Class-leader,  and  promoted  to  the  office  of  local 
preacher  in  which  sphere  of  labor  he  was  remarkably  zeal¬ 
ous  and  useful.  Asbury,  Coke,  and  Whatcoat,  shared  the 
kind  hospitalities  of  his  home.  In  1813  he  removed  to  Lees¬ 
burg,  where  he  opened  his  doors  for  itinerant  preaching, 
and  through  his  efforts,  in  connection  with  those  of 
others,  a  society  of  about  a  hundred  members  was  raised 
up,  and  a  commodious  house  of  worship  erected.  He 
died  June  4th,  1830. 

John  Haggerty  was  the  first  preacher,  so  far  as  we 
are  informed,  that  bore  the  ensign  of  Methodism  into 
Elizabeth.  He  was  sent  by  Bishop  Asbury  to  form  the 
Newark  circuit,  and  early  in  the  year  1785  he  visited 
Elizabeth.  He  was  directed  to  the  house  of  Thomas 
Morrell’s  father,  where  he  was  kindly  entertained,  and 
proclaimed  his  message.  Thomas  Morrell,  who  was  then 
thirty-eight  years  of  age,  was  present  and  heard  the  ser¬ 
mon.  It  was  from  the  text,  “  God  so  loved  the  world,” 
&c.  He  was  awakened  under  the  sermon,  and  after  a 


TIIE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1784-5. 


319 


few  months  was  converted.  The  foundation  of  Method¬ 
ism  in  Elizabeth  was  laid  at  that  time,  and  it  continues 
still  to  pi'osper  there,  notwithstanding  its  formidable  ob¬ 
stacles. 

Mr.  Haggerty  was  the  first  Methodist  preacher  Mr. 
Morrell  ever  heard.  At  his  earnest  solicitation,  about 
three  months  after  his  conversion,  the  latter  abandoned  a 
lucrative  business,  “  and  commenced  preaching  in  differ¬ 
ent  places,  his  appointments  being  made  by  Mr.  Hag¬ 
gerty,  as  he  passed  round  the  circuit.”  One  of  his  first 
efforts  as  a  preacher  was  made  “  at  the  house  of  his 
uncle,  at  Chatham,  Morris  county,  New  Jersey.  Having 
been  an  officer  in  the  army  of  the  Revolution,  and  for 
several  years  subsequently  a  merchant  in  Elizabeth,  he 
was  widely  known,  and  a  very  large  assembly  convened 
to  hear  the  ‘major’  preach,  especially  as  he  had  joined 
the  sect  everywhere  spoken  against.  This,  I  think,  was 
his  third  or  fourth  effort,  and  was,  by  himself,  deemed 
an  utter  failure.  He  then  concluded  that  he  was  not 
called  of  God  to  preach,  and  would  not  make  the  at¬ 
tempt  again.  Early  the  ensuing  morning,  while  at 
breakfast  at  his  uncle’s,  there  was  a  knock  at  the  door. 
A  lady  entered  desiring  to  see  the  preacher  of  the  pre¬ 
vious  evening.  In  a  few  moments  another  came,  and 
then  an  old  man  upon  the  same  errand,  all  of  whom  had 
been  awakened  under  the  sermon  deemed  by  him  a  fail- 


320  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

ure.  They  had  come  to  learn  the  way  of  salvation  more 
perfectly.  The  doctrine  to  them  was  new,  having  been 
brought  up  under  Calvinistic  influences.  He,  of  course, 
recalled  his  purpose  to  preach  no  more,  and  was  encour¬ 
aged  to  go  forward. 

“  About  this  time  such  was  the  excitement  all  through 
that  part  of  the  State,  occasioned  by  Methodist  preach¬ 
ing,  that  some  of  the  ministers  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  became  alarmed.  One  of  them,  a  young  man, 
advising  with  an  elder  brother  in  the  ministry,  asked  the 
question,  ‘  What  shall  be  done  to  counteract  the  influence 
they  are  exerting  ?’  ‘  Why,’  said  the  elder  brother,  ‘we 

must  out  preach  and  out  pray  them.’  ‘That,’  replied 
the  young  preacher,  ‘is  impossible,  for  there  is  Mr.  Hag¬ 
gerty,  he  can  split  a  hair.’  ”* 

Chatham  is  about  the  oldest  society  in  Morris  county 
except  Flanders,  but  whether  there  were  any  Methodists 
there  at  the  time  Mr.  Morrell  preached  the  sermon  above 
mentioned  we  are  unable  to  say.  But  very  soon  after¬ 
ward  there  was  a  society  of  Methodists  there,  and  some 
time  previous  to  1790,  probably  about  1786  or  1787 
they  moved  toward  building  a  Chapel.  But  their 
number  being  small  and  their  means  limited,  they  were 
led  to  accept  a  proposal  made  by  some  persons  not  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  society,  but  who  appeared  friendly,  which 

*  Letter  of  Rev.  F.  A.  Morrell  to  the  writer. 


THE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1784-5.  321 

was  that  they  would  assist  them  in  building  the  Chapel, 
providing  it  should  be  free  to  all  denominations.  To 
this  the  Methodists  consented,  and  one  person  gave  tim¬ 
ber,  another  boards,  &c.,  and  the  house  was  accordingly 
erected.  The  Methodists  held  their  public  services  in  it 
for  a  considerable  time,  but  in  the  course  of  years  the 
free  enterprise  resulted  in  dissatisfaction  and  bickering, 
and  at  length  the  house  was  pulled  down.  In  1832  the 
present  Methodist  Church  in  Chatham  was  erected. 
Mr.  Brainerd  Dickinson  was,  we  are  informed,  the 
leader  of  the  first  class,  and  the  chief  man  in  the  society 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier, 
and  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Monmouth.  He  died 
about  1819.  From  this  Church  the  venerable  Manning 
Force,  of  the  Newark  Conference,  went  forth  to  the  itin¬ 
erancy,  and  Mr.  Isaac  Searles,  father-in-law  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Whedon,  was  for  years,  during  the  first  part  of  the  pre¬ 
sent  century,  an  important  and  useful  man  in  the  so¬ 
ciety.  He  died  in  December,  1856,  in  the  city  of 
Washington,  aged  about  80  years.  The  venerable  Mat¬ 
thias  Swaim,  father  of  Rev.  John  S.  Swaim,  now  about 
ninety  years  of  age,  has  been  a  member  there  since  1803. 
He  is  still  one  of  the  chief  pillars  of  the  Church.  He 
became  a  resident  of  Chatham  in  1791,  and  to  him  we 
are  indebted  for  most  of  the  above  facts. 

An  event  of  great  importance  to  Methodism  in 


322  MEMORIALS  OP  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

America  occurred  tliis  year.  It  was  the  organization  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  as  a  distinct  and  inde¬ 
pendent  ecclesiastical  body. 

“  In  1782,  by  virtue  of  the  Preliminary  Articles  of 
peace,  hostilities  ceased  between  the  United  States  and 
Great  Britain — and  in  1783  the  Definitive  Treaty  of 
Peace  was  signed,  ratified,  and  carried  into  full  effect. 
The  Independence  of  the  United  States  being  acknow¬ 
ledged  by  Great  Britain,  and  our  civil  and  religious  rites, 
liberties,  and  privileges,  being  established  and  secured, 
and  peace  being  restored  again  to  the  land ;  the  state  of 
things  was  amazingly  changed. 

“In  1784,  Mr.  Wesley,  who  had  been  applied  to  for 
advice  and  counsel,  considered  the  situation  of  the  Meth¬ 
odist  societies  in  the  United  States;  and  on  mature  de¬ 
liberation,  advised  and  recommended  his  American  breth¬ 
ren,  who  were  totally  disentangled,  both  from  the  Brit¬ 
ish  civil  government,  and  from  the  English  Church  hier¬ 
archy,  that  it  was  best  for  them  ‘  to  stand  fast  in  that 
liberty,  wherewith  God  had  so  strangely  made  them 
free.’  And  he  and  us  being  at  full  liberty,  in  this  mat¬ 
ter,  to  follow  the  Scriptures,  and  the  usages  of  the 
primitive  Church ;  he  being  clear  in  his  own  mind,  took 
a  step,  which  he  had  long  weighed  in  his  thoughts  ;  and, 
not  only  advised  and  recommended  his  American  breth¬ 
ren,  but  took  a  decided  part  in  aiding  them,  to  become  a 


THE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1784-5. 


323 


distinct  and  independent  Church.  Accordingly  he  set 
apart,  and  appointed  Thomas  Coke,  Doctor  of  Civil  law, 
late  of  Jesus  College,  Oxford,  who  was  a  regular  Presby¬ 
ter  of  the  English  Church,  and  vested  him  with  full  Epis¬ 
copal  authority,  to  come  over  to  America  on  this  business  ; 
and  Richard  Whatcoat  and  Thomas  Yasey,  presbyters, 
to  come  with  him ;  and  to  confer  ordinations,  and  to  as¬ 
sist  the  Methodist  societies  in  becoming,  and  organizing 
themselves  an  independent  Church.  At  the  same  time 
he  recommended  the  Episcopal  form  and  mode  of  Church 
government ;  and  that  Dr.  Thomas  Coke,  and  Mr. 
Francis  Asbui’y,  be  received  and  acknowledged,  as  joint 
superintendents  or  bishops.  The  same  year,  Mr.  Wes¬ 
ley  executed  the  famous  deed  of  settlement,  or  declara¬ 
tion,  of  one  hundred  preachers,  of  whom  Dr.  Coke  was 
one,  and  first  on  the  list  after  the  two  Wesleys,  as  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  British  Conference  in  regular  succession,  to 
be  known  in  law,  and  to  hold  the  Chapels,  preaching- 
houses,  and  other  property  in  behalf  of  the  connection 
in  Europe.  Next  to  his  brother  Charles,  no  man  stood 
higher  in  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  Mr.  Wesley  than 
Dr.  Coke ;  and  in  America,  no  man  stood  so  high  with 
him  as  Mr.  Asbury. 

“September  18th,  1784,  Coke,  Whatcoat,  and  Vasey 
sailed  from  Bristol  for  America,  and  landed  in  New 
York  the  3d  of  November  following.  Dr.  Coke  and 


324  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

Whatcoat,  leaving  Vasey  behind,  hastened  on  to  the 
south  with  all  expedition.  On  the  14th  of  the  same 
month  they  met  Mr.  Asbury,  and  about  fifteen  of  the 
American  preachers,  at  a  Quarterly  meeting,  held  in 
Barrett’s  Chapel,  Kent  county,  State  of  Delaware. 

“  It  was  at  that  meeting,  at  Barrett’s  Chapel,  that  by 
mutual  consent  and  agreement  of  the  preachers  there, 
that  the  General  Conference,  was  called  to  meet  in  Bal¬ 
timore,  on  the  Christmas  following,  to  take  into  consid¬ 
eration  the  proposals  and  advice  of  Mr.  Wesley.  Intel¬ 
ligence  was  sent  off  to  every  part  of  the  connection. 
Brother  Garrettson  was  appointed  to  go  through  Mary¬ 
land,  into  Virginia,  and  to  give  the  information  to  the 
south  and  west,  and  to  call  the  preachers  together. 

“The  Conference  met  the  27th  of  December,  1784, 
and  continued  their  deliberation  and  sitting  until  some 
time  in  January,  1785.  It  was  unanimously  agreed, 
that  circumstances  made  it  expedient  for  the  Methodist 
societies  in  America  to  become  a  separate  body  from  the 
Church  of  England ;  of  which,  until  then,  they  had  been 
considered  as  members.  They  also  resolved  to  take  the 
title,  and  to  be  known  in  future  by  the  name  of  The 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  They  made  the  Epis¬ 
copal  office  elective  ;  and  the  bishops  or  superintendents, 
to  be  amenable  for  their  conduct  to  the  body  of  preach¬ 
ers  or  to  the  General  Conference.  Mr.  Asbury,  though 


TIIE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1784-5.  325 

appointed  by  Mr.  Wesley,  would  not  be  ordained  un¬ 
less  he  was  chosen  by  a  vote,  or  the  voice  of  the  Con- 

t 

ference.  He  was  unanimously  elected,  and  Dr.  Coke 
was  also  unanimously  received  jointly  with  him,  to  be 
the  superintendents,  or  bishops,  of  the  Methodist  Episco¬ 
pal  Church.  From  that  time  the  Methodist  societies  in 
the  United  States  became  an  independent  Church,  under 
the  Episcopal  mode  and  form  of  government.  Design¬ 
ing,  professing,  and  resolving  ‘  to  follow  the  Scriptures, 
and  the  primitive  Church,  according  to  the  advice  and 
counsel  of  Mr.  Wesley,  and  in  perfect  unison  with  the 
views,  the  opinions,  and  wishes  of  Mr.  Asbury.  This  step 
met  with  general  approbation,  both  among  the  preachers 
and  the  members.  Perhaps  we  shall  seldom  find  such 
unanimity  of  sentiment,  in  a  whole  community,  upon  any 
question  of  such  magnitude,  proposed  to  be  adopted  by 
them.”* 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Ware  was  present  at  this  memorable 
conference,  and  he  speaks  of  it  in  the  following  language : 

“  Nearly  fifty  years  have  now  elapsed  since  the  Christ¬ 
mas  Conference,  and  I  have  a  thousand  times  looked 
back  to  the  memorable  era  with  pleasurable  emotions. 
I  have  often  said  it  was  the  most  solemn  convocation  I 
ever  saw.  I  might  have  said,  for  many  reasons,  it  was 
sublime.  During  the  whole  time  of  our  being  together 

*  Rev.  Ezekiel  Cooper's  work  on  Asbury,  pp.  102-3-4-8-9. 


326  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

in  the  transaction  of  business  of  the  utmost  magnitude, 
there  was  not,  I  verily  believe,  on  the  Conference  floor 
or  in  private,  an  unkind  word  spoken,  or  an  unbrotherly 
emotion  felt.  Christian  love  predominated  ;  and,  under 
its  influence,  we  ‘  kindly  thought  and  sweetly  spoke  the 
same.’ 

“  The  annual  meetings  of  the  preachers,  sent,  as  they 
hold  themselves  to  he,  to  declare  in  the  name  of  the  al¬ 
mighty  Jesus  terms  of  peace  between  the  offended  Ma¬ 
jesty  of  heaven  and  guilty  man,  were  to  them  occur¬ 
rences  of  interesting  import.  The  privilege  of  seeing 
each  other,  after  laboring  and  suffering  reproach  in  dis¬ 
tant  portions  of  the  Lord’s  vineyard,  and  of  hearing  the 
glad  tidings  which  they  expected  to  hear  on  such  occa¬ 
sions,  of  what  God  was  doing  through  their  instrumen¬ 
tality,  encouraged  their  hearts  every  step  they  took  in 
their  long  and  wearisome  journeys,  and  served  as  a  cor¬ 
dial  to  their  spirits.  But  never  before  had  they  met  on 
so  important  and  solemn  an  occasion  as  this.  Fifteen 
years  had  passed  away  since  Boardman  and  Pillmoor  ar¬ 
rived  in  America,  in  the  character  of  itinerants,  under 
the  direction  of  Mr.  Wesley.  This  was  the  fifteenth 
Conference.  During  all  that  time,  those  of  us  who 
would  dedicate  our  infant  offspring  to  the  Lord  by  bap¬ 
tism,  or  would  ourselves  receive  the  holy  sacrament, 
must  go  for  these  sacred  rites  to  such  as  knew  us  not, 


THE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1784-5.  327 

and  were  entirely  mistaken  respecting  our  character. 
The  charge  preferred  against  us  was  not  hypocrisy,  but 
enthusiasm.  Our  opposers  did  not  blame  us  for  not  liv¬ 
ing  up  to  our  profession  outwardly,  hut  for  professing 
too  much — more  than  is  the  privilege  of  man  in  this  life, 
in  speaking  with  Christian  confidence  of  the  knowledge 
of  a  present  salvation  by  the  forgiveness  of  sins,  and  the 
witness  of  the  Spirit.  There  were,  indeed,  a  few  who 
harmonized  with  us  in  sentiment  and  in  feeling.  But,  in 
the  general  estimation,  we  were  the  veriest  enthusiasts 
the  world  ever  saw. 

“  Humiliating  indeed  was  our  condition.  Not  a  man 
in  holy  orders  among  us ;  and  against  us  formidable 
combinations  were  formed,  not  so  much  at  first  among 
the  laity  as  among  the  clergy.  But  being  denounced 
from  the  pulpit  as  illiterate,  unsound  in  our  principles, 
and  enthusiastic  in  our  spirit  and  practice — in  a  word, 
every  way  incompetent,  and  only  to  be  despised — the 
multitude,  men  and  women,  were  emboldened  to  attack 
us ;  and  it  was  often  matter  of  diversion  to  witness  how 
much  they  appeared  to  feel  their  own  superiority. 

“  All  these  things,  however,  we  could  have  borne  with¬ 
out  concern,  as  the  work  of  God  was  prospering,  and 
the  societies  increasing  more  rapidly  than  any  other  de¬ 
nomination  in  the  country ;  but  the  want  of  orders  had 
a  tendency  to  paralyze  our  efforts.  Many,  very  many, 


328  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

who  had  been  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  God  through 
our  instrumentality,  were  kept  from  uniting  with  us  be¬ 
cause  we  could  not  administer  to  them  all  the  ordi¬ 
nances. 

“  At  the  Christmas  Conference  we  met  to  congratu¬ 
late  each  other,  and  to  praise  the  Lord  that  he  had  dis¬ 
posed  the  mind  of  our  excellent  Wesley  to  renounce  the 
fable  of  uninterrupted  succession,  and  prepare  the  way 
for  furnishing  us  with  the  long  desired  privileges  we  were 
thenceforward  expecting  to  enjoy.  The  announcement 
of  the  plan  devised  by  him  for  our  organization  as  a 
Church,  filled  us  with  solemn  delight.  It  answered  to 
what  we  did  suppose,  during  our  labors  and  privations, 
we  had  reason  to  expect  our  God  would  do  for  us ;  for 
in  the  integrity  of  our  hearts  we  verily  believed  his  de¬ 
sign  in  raising  up  the  preachers  called  Methodists  in 
this  country  wTas  to  reform  the  continent  and  spread 
scriptural  holiness  through  these  lands ;  and  we  accord¬ 
ingly  looked  to  be  endued,  in  due  time,  with  all  the 
panoply  of  God.  We,  therefore,  received  and  followed 
the  advice  of  Mr.  Wesley,  as  stated  in  our  form  of  Dis¬ 
cipline. 

“After  Mr.  Wesley’s  letter,  declaring  his  appoint¬ 
ment  of  Dr.  Coke  and  Mr.  Asbury  joint  superintendents 
over  the  Methodists  in  America,  had  been  read,  ana¬ 
lyzed,  and  cordially  approved  by  the  Conference,  the 


THE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1784-5.  329 

question  arose,  ‘  What  name  or  title  shall  we  take  ?’  I 
thought  to  myself,  I  shall  be  satisfied  that  we  be  de¬ 
nominated,  The  Methodist  Church,  and  so  whispered  to 
a  brother  sitting  near  me.  But  one  proposed,  I  think  it 
was  John  Dickens,  that  we  should  adopt  the  title  of 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Dickens  was,  in 
the  estimation  of  his  brethren,  a  man  of  sound  sense  and 
sterling  piety ;  and  there  were  few  men  on  the  Confer¬ 
ence  floor  heard  with  greater  deference  than  he.  Most 
of  the  preachers  had  been  brought  up  in  what  was  called 
‘  The  Church  of  England and,  all  agreeing  that  the 
plan  of  general  superintendence,  which  had  been  adopted, 
was  a  species  of  Episcopacy,  the  motion  on  Mr.  Dick¬ 
ens’  suggestion  was  carried  without,  I  think,  a  dissent¬ 
ing  voice.  There  was  not,  to  my  recollection,  the  least 
agitation  on  the  question.  Had  the  Conference  indulged 
a  suspicion  that  the  name  they  adopted  would  be,  in  the 
least  degree,  offensive  to  the  views  or  feelings  of  Mr. 
Wesley,  they  would  have  abandoned  it  at  once ;  for  the 
name  of  Mr.  Wesley  was  inexpressibly  dear  to  the 
Christmas  Conference,  and  especially  to  Mr.  Asbury  and 
Dr.  Coke.” 

A  number  of  preachers  were  elected  to  elders’  orders 
at  this  Conference  and  received  ordination.  Methodists 
could  now  receive  the  Sacraments  at  their  own  altars,  and 
at  the  hands  of  their  own  ministers.  The  advantages 


330  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

resulting  from  this  change  in  the  economy  of  Methodism 
must  have  been  exceedingly  great.  It  was  inconvenient 
to  members  of  the  societies  to  be  compelled  to  go  to  the 
Episcopal  Church  to  receive  the  sacraments ;  and  it  was 
not  a  little  repugnant  to  their  feelings  to  partake  of  the 
emblems  of  the  Saviour’s  passion,  when  administered, 
as  was  too  often  the  case,  by  men  who  were  known 
to  be  deficient,  not  only  in  religion,  but  in  morals.  The 
fact  of  their  being  in  orders  must  have  added,  likewise, 
to  the  dignity  and  influence  of  the  ministry,  and  to  the 
general  harmony  and  efficiency  of  the  Church. 

The  preachers  elected  to  the  order  of  elders,  of  whom 
there  were  thirteen,  were  expected  to  visit  the  Quarterly 
meetings  and  administer  the  ordinances,  which  arrange¬ 
ment  was  finally  substituted  by  the  regular  Presiding 
Eldership,  an  office  necessary,  probably,  to  the  complete 
and  successful  working  of  the  grand  and  powerful  ma¬ 
chinery  of  Methodism. 

Of  the  preachers  appointed  to  labor  in  New  Jersey 
this  year,  the  name  of  Samuel  Dudley  stands  first. 
ITis  first  appointment  in  the  minutes  was  to  Fluvanna, 
Va.,  in  1781.  In  1782  he  was  appointed  to  Sussex  cir¬ 
cuit,  Va.,  with  Pedicord ;  in  1783,  Guilford,  N.  C. ; 
1784,  East  Jersey;  1785,  Dover,  Delaware;  1786,  Dor¬ 
chester,  Md.,  with  Joseph  Everett  as  a  colleague  ;  1787, 
Philadelphia.  In  1788  he  retired  into  the  local  ranks 


THE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1784-5. 


331 


in  consequence  of  family  affairs.  Very  little  is  known 
respecting  his  personal  history,  except  that  he  was  a 
good  and  successful  laborer  in  the  vineyard,  and  endured, 
during  his  period  of  effective  service,  his  due  share  of 
the  toils  and  sacrifices  of  a  pioneer  itinerant  life. 

William  Phoebus  was  born  in  Somerset  county, 
Md.,  August,  1754.  He  entered  the  Conference  on  trial 
in  1783,  and  was  appointed  to  Frederick  circuit,  Md. 
In  1784  he  was  appointed  to  East  Jersey ;  1785,  West 
Jersey.  The  minutes  do  not  designate  his  appointment 
for  1786.  In  1787  he  was  appointed  to  Redstone;  1788, 
Rockingham  ;  1789,  Long  Island  ;  1790,  New  Rochelle; 
1791,  Long  Island,  with  Benjamin  Abbott.  In  1792  he 
located.  It  cannot  but  be  observed  by  the  reader,  how 
frequently  the  word  “located”  occurs.  The  greater 
portion  of  the  preachers  in  the  first  period  of  our  history 
retired  sooner  or  later  from  the  itinerant  ranks.  There 
must  have  been  strong  reasons  for  this,  as  many  of 
those  who  located  manifested  an  ardent  and  abiding  at¬ 
tachment  to  the  work.  One  of  those  reasons  was,  the 
work  required  that  the  preachers  should  travel  exten¬ 
sively,  and  consequently  those  who  had  families  must 
either  abandon  it  or  else  be  almost  perpetually  from 
home.  Another  reason  was,  the  severity  of  the  labor, 
often  taxing  the  strength  beyond  what  it  could  bear,  and 
hence  many  were  compelled  to  retire  on  account  of  fail- 


332  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

ing  health,  there  not  being  at  that  time  any  Supernume¬ 
raries.  Another,  and  perhaps  the  chief  reason,  was  in¬ 
adequate  temporal  support.  The  people  were  poor,  they 
were  contemned  by  the  world  and  by  many  of  other 
sects ;  they  were  compelled  to  build  churches  in  order 
to  meet  the  exigencies  of  the  cause,  and  consequently 
they  were  straitened  in  their  pecuniary  resources ;  and  in 
many  instances  in  consequence  of  their  poverty,  and  the 
various  pressing  demands  made  upon  them  by  the 
Church,  they  were  not  able  to  provide  liberally  for  their 
preachers.  Still,  in  numerous  instances  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  they  might  have  given  a  better  support  to 

those  who  ministered  to  them  in  holy  things,  had  they 

* 

earnestly  and  faithfully  endeavored  to  do  so,  and  a  more 
liberal  course  on  the  part  of  the  Church  would  probably 
have  saved  to  the  ministry  many,  the  value  of  whose 
services  would  have  been  beyond  human  computation. 
The  last  difficulty  named  had  its  influence  in  leading 
Phoebus  to  a  location. 

He  continued  to  labor  in  the  local  sphere,  practicing 
medicine  at  the  same  time,  until  1806,  when  he  again 
entered  the  regular  work  in  the  New  York  Conference, 
and  was  appointed  to  the  city  of  Albany.  In  1808  he 
was  removed  to  Charleston,  S.  C.,  and  in  1811  he  was 
appointed  to  the  city  of  New  York.  He  continued  to 
fill  various  appointments  until  1821,  when  he  became  a 


THE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1784-5. 


333 


Supernumerary.  In  1824,  he  took  a  superannuated  re¬ 
lation  to  the  Conference,  which  he  continued  to  sustain 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  November  9,  1831,  at  his 
residence  in  the  city  of  New  York. 

In  the  early  part  of  his  ministry,  it  is  said,  he  was  an 
earnest  and  searching  preacher,  proclaiming  the  truth 
often  very  fluently  and  successfully.  In  his  later  years 
his  preaching  was  not  of  a  very  popular  character,  but 
this  arose  more  from  the  dryness  of  his  manner,  than 
from  a  want  of  solidity  and  depth  of  matter.  He  was 
quite  eccentric.  He  fancied  things  that  bore  the  stamp 
of  antiquity.  The  sayings  and  opinions  of  the  old  di¬ 
vines  and  philosophers  had  a  great  influence  with  him. 
He  particularly  admired  Baxter.  He  could  not  pardon 
Dr.  Clarke  for  his  opinions  concerning  the  Sonship  of 
Christ,  and  his  speculation  about  the  serpent.  He  some¬ 
times  expressed  himself  enigmatically.  In  speaking  to 
the  Conference  on  one  occasion,  he  remarked  “  that  the 
lease  of  his  house  had  expired,  and  therefore  he  could 
not  tell  how  soon  he  might  be  called  to  remove,  as  he 
was  not  certain  that  he  could  procure  a  renewal  of  his 
lease  for  any  particular  length  of  time ;  hence  he  could 
not  pledge  himself  for  any  special  service  in  the  min¬ 
istry.”  An  old  minister  afterward  said  to  Dr.  Bangs, 
“  I  thought  the  doctor  owned  the  house  in  which  he 

#  lives ;  but  it  seems  I  was  under  a  mistake,  as  he  says 
21 


334  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

that  the  time  of  his  lease  is  run  out.”  The  doctor  re¬ 
plied,  “You  do  not  understand  him.  He  speaks  in 
parables.  He  is  now  three  score  years  and  ten ,  the  com¬ 
mon  age  God  has  allotted  to  man,  and  therefore  cannot 
calculate  on  living  much  longer  at  most.”  This  he 
afterward  explained  to  be  his  meaning. 

He  was  a  man  of  sterling  integrity,  and  of  deep  de¬ 
votion  to  the  Church  and  the  work  of  the  ministry.  He 
well  understood  human  nature  and  was  skillful  in  adjust¬ 
ing  Church  difficulties.  He  possessed  a  large  fund  of 
varied  knowledge,  and  his  discourses  were  richly  evan¬ 
gelical — the  character  and  redemptive  work  and  offices 
of  Jesus  being  prominently  presented  in  them.  He 
maintained  a  lofty  dignity  of  deportment  becoming  the 
ambassador  of  God. 

Having  attained  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years,  he 
came  to  the  closing  scene  with  a  mind  clear  as  the  cloud¬ 
less  day.  He  spoke  of  the  merits  of  his  Redeemer,  and 
of  his  prospect  through  him  of  an  endless  and  glorious 
life.  “  A  short  time  before  he  died  he  quoted  the  words 
of  St.  James,  4  Let  patience  have  its  perfect  work,  that 
ye  may  he  perfect  and  entire,  lacking  nothing,’  and 
commented  upon  them  with  much  apparent  pleasure, 
and  with  great  clearness  of  expression,  exhibiting,  at 
the  same  time,  a  lively  exposition  of  the  meaning  of 


THE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1784-5.  385 

those  expressive  words  in  his  struggles  with  his  last 
enemy.”* 

The  name  of  William  Partridge  first  appears  on 
the  minutes  in  1780,  and  he  was  appointed  to  Pittsylva¬ 
nia,  Ya. ;  1781,  Berkeley,  Va. ;  1782,  Lancaster,  Pa.; 
1783,  Somerset,  Md. ;  1784,  West  Jersey;  1785,  Cam¬ 
den;  1786,  New  Hope,  N.  C. ;  1787,  Yadkin;  1788, 
Broad  River.  In  1789  the  minutes  report  him  as  under 
a  partial  location,  on  account  of  family  affairs,  but  sub¬ 
ject  to  the  order  of  the  Conference.  He  was  a  native 
of  Sussex  county,  Ya.,  and  was  born  in  1754.  He  was 
converted  when  about  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  re¬ 
entered  the  itinerancy  in  1814,  and  in  1817  he  died  in 
Sparta,  Ga.  One  wrote  of  him  as  follows :  “  I  have 
lived  a  near  neighbor  to  brother  Partridge  for  upward  of 
twenty  years,  and  can  with  satisfaction  say  that  he  was 
the  greatest  example  of  piety  that  I  have  ever  been  ac¬ 
quainted  with.”  He  was  a  constant  student  of  the 
Bible,  but  read  other  authors  but  little.  He  ceased 
nearly  at  once  to  labor  and  to  live.  He  preached  his 
last  sermon  from  the  words,  “Walk  in  wisdom  towards 
them  that  are  without.”  The  same  evening  ho  was 
taken  ill.  “  His  colleague  asked  him  whether  he  was 
ready  for  the  final  summons.  He  said,  ‘  Yes,  for  me  to 

*  Bangs’  History  of  M.  E.  Church,  vol.  iv.,  p.  134. 


336  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

die  is  gain.’  His  speech  left  him,  and  on  Saturday 
night  after  he  was  taken  he  breathed  his  last.”* 

John  Fidler  was  admitted  on  trial  at  the  Conference 
of  1784  and  appointed  to  West  Jersey.  In  1785  he 
wTas  appointed  to  Redstone;  1786,  Fairfax,  Ya.  Ac¬ 
cording  to  Lee  he  located  in  1787. 

John  Hagerty  was  born  in  Prince  George’s  county, 
Md.,  February  18,  1747.  He  had  religious  impressions 
at  an  early  age,  and  his  heart  would  melt  as  he  read  the 
story  of  the  Saviour’s  sufferings,  but  he  did  not  experi¬ 
ence  religion  until  he  was  about  twenty-four  years  of 
age. 

He  was  converted  by  means  of  the  ministry  of  John 
King.  Mr.  King  visited  the  town  where  he  resided. 
He  heard  him,  and  liked  the  sermon  tolerably  well. 
The  next  time  he  heard  him  he  was  better  pleased,  and 
the  third  time  the  veil  was  swept  from  his  mind,  so  that 
he  saw  his  exceeding  sinfulness  and  his  exposure  to 
wrath,  and  the  necessity  of  obtaining  the  righteousness 
which  is  of  faith.  The  depths  of  his  heart  were  stirred, 
and  he  resolved  “  on  the  spot  to  flee  from  the  w'rath  to 
come.”  After  some  months  of  distress  and  prayer,  he 
obtained  a  sense  of  pardon.  In  1772  Mr.  King  formed 
a  society  in  the  town,  consisting  of  Mr.  Hagerty  and 

*  Minutes,  1818. 


THE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1784-5. 


337 


thirteen  others,  of  which  Ilagerty  afterwards  became 
the  leader. 

Soon  after  his  conversion  he  began  to  exhort,  and 
under  his  second  exhortation  a  man  was  deeply  convicted 
of  sin.  This  encouraged  him  to  go  forward  in  the  work, 
and  his  hortatory  exercises  soon  assumed  the  dignity  of 
sermons.  He  labored  as  a  local  preacher  for  several 
years,  giving  much  time  to  his  ministerial  labors,  and 
sometimes  “he  would  be  away  from  home  on  his  preach¬ 
ing  excursions  for  many  weeks  together.”  His  heart 
was  so  much  engaged  in  the  business  of  saving  souls 
that  he  could  feel  contented  only  when  he  was  employed 
in  it. 

He  entered  the  itinerancy  in  1779,  and  was  sent  to 
Berkeley  circuit,  Va.,  to  which  he  returned  in  1780. 
In  1781  he  was  appointed  to  Baltimore  circuit;  in  1782 
to  Calvert;  1783,  Chester,  Pa. ;  1784,  he  stands  on  the 
minutes  in  connection  with  Trenton  circuit,  N.  J.  At  the 
Christmas  Conference  he  was  ordained  an  elder  and  was 
stationed  in  1785  in  New  York.  In  1786  and  1787  he 
acted  as  Presiding  Elder.  In  1788  he  was  stationed  in 
Annapolis;  1789,  Baltimore;  1790,  Fell’s  Point;  1791- 
92,  Baltimore.  At  the  end  of  this  year  domestic  afflic¬ 
tion  required  him  to  locate.  But  he  did  not  remain  idle. 
He  preached  in  and  about  Baltimore  with  great  accepta¬ 
bility.  He  was  ready  to  meet  any  call  for  his  ministe- 


338  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

rial  services,  whether  at  night  or  day.  “  Distance, 
weather,  or  season  was  no  consideration  with  him  when 
duty  called.  He  has  been  often  known  to  rise  from  his 
bed  at  midnight  and  ride  for  miles  into  the  country  to 
visit  a  sick  or  a  dying  man,  and  that  without  fee  or  re¬ 
ward.”* 

Mr.  Hagerty  was  of  medium  size,  straight,  and  well 
proportioned,  “  prominent  features — a  fine  retreating 
forehead,  and  in  profile  resembled  the  best  prints  we  have 
of  Mr.  Eletcher.”f  He  was  more  than  an  ordinai-y 
preacher.  It  is  said  he  was  a  close  reasoner,  and  his 
ministrations  were  marked  by  considerable  pathos.  Tie 
had  a  manly  voice,  and  his  enunciation  of  truth  was 
“  clear,  pointed,  and  commanding.” 

A  few  days  before  his  death  a  ministerial  friend  and 
brother  called  to  see  him,  and  remarked  that  he  ap¬ 
peared  to  be  drawing  nigh  to  eternity,  when  he  replied, 
“Yes;  and  all  is  straight,  the  way  is  clear  before  me.” 
On  the  fourth  of  September,  1823,  he  entered  into 
rest. 

Matthew  Greentree  was  appointed  in  1783,  (which 

% 

is  the  first  he  appears  on  the  record,)  to  Caroline,  Md. 
In  1784  he  was  appointed  to  Trenton;  1785,  East  Jer¬ 
sey  ;  1786,  Little  York,  Pa. ;  1787,  Annamessex,  Md. ; 

*  Memoir,  by  Eev.  Joshua  Soule.  Meth.  Mag.,  1824,  p.  211. 

f  Ibid. 


THE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1784-5.  339 

1788,  Caroline,  Md. ;  1789,  Kent,  Md.  In  1790  he  lo¬ 
cated.  Mr.  Greentree  was,  it  is  said,  a  native  of  Talbot 
county,  Md.,  and  was  probably  the  first  contribution 
which  Methodism  in  that  county  made  to  the  itiner¬ 
ancy. 


340  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


I 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

RESULTS  AND  LABORERS. 

Three  Conferences  were  held  in  the  year  1785,  which 
was  the  first  time  that  more  than  one  had  been  held  in 
the  same  year.  There  had,  indeed,  in  several  instances, 
as  we  have  already  shown,  been  two  sessions,  but  they 
were  regarded  as  but  one  Conference.  The  third  Con¬ 
ference  this  year  was  held  in  Baltimore,  commencing  the 
first  day  of  June.  We  suppose  that  New  Jersey  was 
included  in  this  Conference.  The  membership  was  re¬ 
ported  in  the  aggregate  this  year,  so  that  we  cannot  tell 
what  was  the  number  in  New  Jersey.  There  were 
eighteen  thousand  members  in  the  entire  connection. 

The  work  in  New  Jersey  was  supplied  with  laborers 
this  year  as  follows :  Thomas  S.  Chew,  Elder.  West 
Jersey,  William  Phoebus,  Thomas  Ware,  Robert  Sparks. 
East  Jersey,  Adam  Cloud,  Matthew  Greentree.  Tren¬ 
ton,  Robert  Cloud,  John  McClaskey,  Jacob  Brush. 


RESULTS  AND  LABORERS. 


341 


This  was  the  strongest  ministerial  force,  numerically, 
with  which  New  Jersey  had  till  that  time  been  favored. 

This  year  was  rather  barren  of  incidents,  or,  if  it  was 
not,  few  have  been  transmitted  to  us.  Those  few,  how¬ 
ever,  indicate  the  progress  of  the  cause. 

It  was  this  year  that  John  Walker,  a  name  precious 
to  many  New  Jersey  Methodists,  united  with  the  Church. 
He  lived  until  1849,  and  was  for  years  a  venerated 
father  in  our  ministry.  He  joined  the  society  in  Mount 
Holly.  As  the  organization  of  that  society  was  not  per¬ 
manent  till  after  the  period  embraced  in  the  present  vol¬ 
ume,  we  have  made  only  passing  allusions  to  it.  But  as 
it  was  associated  with  the  earliest  days  of  New  Jersey 
Methodism,  and  as  it  contributed  two  of  its  first  mem¬ 
bers  to  the  itinerancy,  (Ware  and  Walker,)  and  two 
others  sustained  no  insignificant  relation  to  the  cause, 
one  being  the  wife  of  an  itinerant  and  the  other  of  a  most 
prominent  layman,  it  may  be  proper  that  we  should  here 
give  some  of  the  facts  of  its  early  history. 

The  first  Methodist  preacher  that  preached  in  Mount 
Holly,  so  far  as  our  knowledge  extends,  was  George 
Shadford,  one  of  Mr.  Wesley’s  Missionaries  to  America. 
This  was  probably  about  1773.  It  was  sometime  after 
that  a  small  society  was  formed  there.  Miss  Bebecca 
Budd,  afterward  Mrs.  James  Sterling,  joined  it  in  1779. 
It  is  probable  that  this  was  about  the  beginning  of  the 


342  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

society.  She  was  the  only  young  unmarried  person  then 
in  the  class,  and  she  was  highly  gratified  when  Thomas 
Ware  united  with  them  in  1781,  as  she  thought  she 
would  find  in  him  a  profitable  Christian  associate.  Some 
of  the  other  members  of  the  class  were  Mrs.  Mary  Mon¬ 
roe,  Mary  Lees,  afterward  the  wife  of  Rev.  J.  Walker, 
Mary  Morrell,  afterward  Mrs.  Dobbins,  the  wife  of  Peter 
Shiras,  Esq.,  and  a  colored  woman  named  Drusilla, 
otherwise  called  “  Old  Drusy.” 

In  those  days  the  only  place  the  Methodists  could 
procure  for  preaching  was  the  Town  house,  over  the 
Market,  which  was  made  the  scene  of  gracious  displays 
of  the  Divine  mercy.  But  for  some  cause  the  society 
declined.  Perhaps  it  was  owing,  in  some  degree,  to  the 
loss  of  such  noble  spirits  as  Ware  and  Miss  Budd,  the 
former  leaving  to  enter  the  itinerancy.  For  several 
years  there  were  but  two  members  in  Mount  Holly,  Mrs. 
Mary  Monroe  and  “  Old  Drusy.”  They  were  accustomed 
to  go  two  and  a  half  miles  to  attend  week  day  preach¬ 
ing,  there  being  no  Methodist  preaching  in  the  town. 
In  1794  there  appears  to  have  been  no  society  there,  as 
about  that  time  a  Mrs.  M’Gowan,  who  was  converted 
under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  James  Rogers,  in  Dublin, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  class  led  by  his  wife,  Mrs. 
Hester  Ann  Rogers,  became  a  resident  of  Mount  Holly, 
and  not  finding  a  Methodist  society  with  which  she  could 


RESULTS  AND  LABORERS. 


343 


unite,  she  joined  the  Baptist  Church,  of  which  she  re¬ 
mained  a  member  several  years,  until  the  society  was  re¬ 
organized,  when  she  returned  to  the  Church  of  her  birth 
and  of  her  choice.  Mrs.  M’Gowan  had  enjoyed  the 
ministry  of  Wesley,  Fletcher,  and  Clarke,  and  she  was 
present  when  an  attempt  was  made  upon  the  life  of  Mr. 
Rogers  in  the  Chapel,  while  he  was  in  the  act  of  preach¬ 
ing,  of  which  mention  is  made  in  Mrs.  Rogers’  Memoirs. 
The  first  Church  in  Mount  ITolly  was  erected  about 
1810. 

As  the  war  was  over  and  quiet  restored,  Chapels  began 
to  spring  up  in  different  parts  of  the  State.  A  Quarterly 
meeting  was  held  in  November  of  this  year  at  Goodluck, 
in  what  is  now  Ocean  county,  and  on  the  Sabbath  James 
Sterling  and  Rebecca  Budd  were  united  in  holy  matri¬ 
mony  in  the  Church,  in  the  presence  of  the  congrega¬ 
tion.  There  must,  therefore,  have  been  a  meeting-house 
there  at  that  time,  and  of  course  a  society,  which  must 
have  been  formed  at  a  period  somewhat  earlier.  This 
Church,  doubtless,  was  attended  by  the  Methodists  of 
that  entire  region. 

Bishop  Asbury  attended  a  Quarterly  meeting  on  Sat¬ 
urday  and  Sunday,  Sept.  17  and  18,  1785,  at  Maurice 
river,  in  Cumberland  county,  and  on  Saturday  he  says, 
“  Our  house  was  not  quite  covered,  and  it  was  falling 
weather ;  the  people,  nevertheless,  stayed  to  hear  me 


344  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

preach.”  From  the  remark,  “  Our  house  was  not  quite 
covered,”  it  appears  that  it  was  a  Chapel  which  they 
had  erected  but  had  not  finished.  That  this  is  not  a 
mere  conjecture  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  Asbury  was 
at  Maurice  river  the  following  year,  when  he  preached 
in  the  Church.  There  is  scarcely  any  doubt  that  it  was 
located  in  the  village  of  Port  Elizabeth.  There  was  in 
1785  a  good  society  there.  This  we  infer  from  the  fact 
that  in  the  love-feast  on  Sunday  the  people  spoke  freely 
of  the  dealings  of  God  with  their  souls.  It  was,  accord¬ 
ing  to  Asbury,  “a  great  time.” 

One  of  the  first  Methodists  in  that  part  of  West  Jer¬ 
sey,  and  probably  a  member  of  this  same  society  at  the 
time  this  Quarterly  meeting  was  held,  was  Eli  Budd. 
He  became  a  member  of  the  society  about  1775,  which 
indicates  that  it  must  have  been  formed  about  that  time. 
He  died  at  Port  Elizabeth  early  in  the  year  1830. 
During  most  of  this  time  he  was  a  class  leader,  and  a 
steward  of  the  circuit.  When  on  his  death  bed  he  ex¬ 
claimed,  “  Fifty-five  years  ago  God  converted  my  soul 
and  I  united  myself  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Fifty-three  years  since  I  was  appointed  a  class  leader, 
and  forty-seven  years  ago  God  sanctified  my  soul ;  since 
which  time  I  have  lived  in  the  precious  enjoyment  of 
his  perfect  love,  and  now  I  go  to  live  with  and  enjoy  him 
forever !” 


RESULTS  AND  LABORERS. 


345 


In  the  West  Jersey  circuit,  -which  included  about  the 
whole  of  the  State  south  of  Burlington,  Methodism  had 
to  contend  with  high  toned  Calvinism  and  Mysticism. 
The  rides  of  the  preachers  were  very  long,  and  many  of 
them  very  dreary.  Yet  their  labors  were,  in  a  degree, 
successful,  a  number  being  converted  during  the  year. 
Mr.  Ware  was  favored  with  seeing  several  of  his  rela¬ 
tives  brought  to  God  through  the  agency  of  Methodism 
this  year. 

Bishop  Asbury  visited  Stow  Creek  and  Salem  this  year, 
and  preached  at  each  place  “with  some  consolation.” 

At  Salem  he  baptized  two  persons  by  immersion  in 
the  creek.  “  This  unusual  baptismal  ceremony,”  he 
says,  “  might  have  made  our  congregation  larger  than  it 
would  otherwise  have  been.”  He  was  also  in  Mon¬ 
mouth,  and  speaks  of  hearing  Mr.  Woodhull,  the  suc¬ 
cessor  of  Wm.  Tennent,  at  the  Tennent  Church,  preach 
a  funeral  sermon  on  “  Lord,  thou  hast  made  my  days  as 
an  handbreadth.”  “In  my  judgment,”  he  says,  “he 
spoke  well.”  He  preached  with  liberty  to  the  people  at 
Monmouth,  on  Josh.  xxiv.  17.  The  society  at  Mon¬ 
mouth  must  have  been  formed  at  an  early  period,  proba¬ 
bly  about  1780,  as  in  that  year  Job  Throckmorton  of 
Freehold  was  converted  under  the  ministry  of  Rev. 
Richard  Garrettson,  and  became  a  member  of  the  so¬ 
ciety.  He  was  one  of  the  first  members  in  that  region. 


346  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

The  Methodists  were  much  persecuted  there  at  that  time. 
His  house  was  a  home  for  the  preachers,  and  very  likely 
Asbury  was  entertained  in  his  dwelling  during  this  visit 
to  Freehold.  Everett,  F.  Garrettson,  Cooper,  Ware, 
and  others  were  accustomed  to  stop  at  his  house.  He 
was  accustomed  to  relate  incidents  illustrative  of  Ab¬ 
bott’s  powerful  ministry,  one  of  which  was  as  follows : 

On  one  occasion  meeting  was  held  in  the  woods,  and 
after  F.  Garrettson  had  preached,  Abbott  rose  and 
looked  around  over  the  congregation  very  significantly, 
and  exclaimed,  “  Lord,  begin  the  work  !  Lord  begin  the 
work  now  !  Lord,  begin  the  work  just  there  /”  pointing, 
at  the  same  time,  towards  a  man  who  was  standing  beside 
a  tree,  and  the  man  fell  as  suddenly  as  if  he  had  been 
shot,  and  cried  aloud  for  mercy. 

An  incident  very  similar  to  this,  is  related  by  Mr.  Amos 
Opdyke,  Sen.,  a  venerable  New  Jersey  Methodist,  which 
is  thus  given  by  his  son,  the  Rev.  S.  II.  Opdyke,  A.  M. 
“  Many  years  since  he  became  acquainted  with  an  old 
Methodist  lady,  who  in  her  childhood  had  been  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  a  family  which  Abbott  visited.  On  one  occasion 
the  family  heard  the  sainted  man,  after  he  had  retired 
to  his  room,  earnestly  praying  for  the  conversion  of  one 
soul  at  his  next  day  appointment.  Next  morning  whilst 
praying  in  the  family  circle,  he  offered  the  same  peti¬ 
tion — ‘Lord,  give  me  one  soul  to-day.’  He  went  to  his 


RESULTS  AND  LABORERS. 


847 


appointment  and  in  his  opening  prayer  he  still  called  on 
God  to  give  him  one  soul.  He  commenced  his  discourse, 
and  after  having  spoken  most  solemnly  for  some  time, 
he  fixed  his  eye  upon  a  gentleman  standing  near  the 
door,  and  pointing  in  that  direction,  cried  out,  4  Lord, 
let  that  be  the  soul,’  and  the  man  fell  under  the  power 
of  God  as  if  pierced  by  a  rifle  hall.” 

In  East  Jersey  the  borders  were  enlarged,  so  as  to  in¬ 
clude  Staten  Island.  Robert  Cloud  went  thither  in  the 
fall,  and  commenced  laboring  and  a  great  revival  fol¬ 
lowed.  The  labor  being  too  great  for  him,  Thomas  Morrell 
was  induced  to  go  to  his  aid.  Mr.  Morrell  remained  there 
until  1788,  (twenty  months,)  when  he  was  ordained  Dea¬ 
con  and  appointed  to  Trenton.  It  was  about  this  period 
that  the  first  Methodist  society  was  organized  on  the 
Island.  Asbury,  as  we  have  seen,  had  previously 
preached  there,  but  little  permanent  effects  seem  to  have 
followed  his  labors.  Israel  Disosway  was,  it  is  believed, 
the  leader  of  its  first  class,  and  an  important  man  in  the 
society.  u  The  first  Quarterly  meeting  was  held  in  his 
barn  ;  and  the  timbers  of  the  first  Methodist  Church 
built  on  Staten  Island,  were  cut  from  his  trees.”  This 
Church  was  built  about  1790  or  1791.  Some  of  the 
other  members  of  this  society  were  Ann  Doughty,  sub¬ 
sequently  Mrs.  Disosway,  Abraham  Cole,  Hannah  Cole, 


348  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

Peter  Woglam,  John  Slaught,  John  Marshall,  and  Peter 
Win  ant. 

Bishop  Asbury  visited  Elizaibethtown  this  year  and 
was  the  guest  of  Mr.  Ogden.  He  preached  in  an  un¬ 
finished  church  belonging  to  the  Presbyterians. 

Of  the  preachers  in  New  Jersey  this  year  Thomas  S. 
Chew,  the  elder,  stands  first.  He  was  a  man  of  superior 
gifts  as  a  preacher,  and  appears  to  have  been  devoted, 
popular,  and  useful.  While  traveling  in  Maryland 
during  the  war,  he  was  asked  by  a  Mr.  Downs,  the 
sheriff  of  the  county,  if  he  were  “  a  minister  of  the 
gospel.”  He  replied  in  the  affirmative,  when  Mr.  Downs 
requested  him  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  but  he  de¬ 
clined  on  account  of  conscientious  scruples.  Mr.  Downs 
then  told  him  that  he  was  bound  by  his  oath  of  office  to 
enforce  the  law  upon  him  and  send  him  to  prison.  Mr. 
Chew  calmly  replied  that  he  did  not  wish  him  to  perjure 
himself,  that  he  was  ready  to  submit  to  the  execution  of 
the  law.  Mr.  Downs  answered,  “  You  are  a  strange 
man,  and  I  cannot  bear  to  punish  you,  I  will,  therefore, 
make  my  house  your  prison.”  He  accordingly  con¬ 
signed  him  under  his  own  hand  and  seal  to  his  own  house 
as  a  prisoner,  where  he  kindly  entertained  him  for  about 
three  months,  during  which  time  both  himself  and  his 
lady  were  awakened  under  Mr.  Chew’s  exhortations  and 
prayers,  and  the  lady  was  converted.  They  both  be- 


RESULTS  AND  LABORERS. 


349 


came  Methodists,  and,  assisted  by  others,  built  the  first 
Methodist  meeting-house  in  that  county,  called  “  Tuckey- 
hoe  Chapel,”  and  it  was  from  that  place,  or  its  vicinity, 
that  Ezekiel  Cooper,  Thomas  Neall,  and  others  went 
forth  to  the  battles  of  the  itinerancy. 

Mr.  Chew  appeal’s  to  have  made  a  strong  impression 
in  favor  of  the  cause  as  elder  this  year  in  Jersey.  Mr. 
Ware  says  “The  Presiding  Elder  appointed  to  attend 
the  Quarterly  meetings  in  Jersey  was  an  exceedingly 
popular  man,  and  his  presence  gave  a  consequence  to 
these  meetings  which  left  no  doubt  on  our  minds  of  the 
advantage  of  having  men  in  holy  orders  among  us;  and 
we  praised  God  for  the  providence  which  had  brought 
about  this  new  order  of  things,  and  established  us  as  a 
branch  of  his  militant  Church.” 

Mr.  Chew  continued  to  serve  the  Church  in  the  office 
of  elder  in  different  parts  of  the  country  until  his  down¬ 
fall  in  1787  or  1788.  His  fall  occurred  in  Sussex  Co., 
Delaware.  He  professed  to  be  restored  to  the  Divine 
favor,  but  had  to  retire  from  the  ministry.  He  appears 
as  desisting  from  traveling  on  the  minutes  of  1788,  but 
was  considered  as  expelled  on  the  ground  of  immorality. 

Thomas  Ware  is  understood  to  have  ranked  among 
the  strong  men  of  his  day  with  respect  to  preaching 
ability  and  usefulness.  The  following  incident  is  illus¬ 
trative  of  his  character  and  of  his  devotion  to  the  work 
22 


350  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

of  doing  good.  He  was  once  overtaken  in  a  severe  snow 
storm  and  compelled  to  stop  at  an  inn,  where  he  was  de¬ 
tained  a  week  by  the  storm.  He  spoke  to  the  landlady 
about  her  soul  and  she  seemed  affected.  Being  a  good 
singer,  he  sang  them  some  spiritual  songs  with  which  they 
seemed  delighted.  One  evening  as  they  were  seated 
around  the  cheerful  fire,  and  the  snow  and  hail  were 
pelting  furiously  against  the  Avindows,  Ware  observed 
that  his  host  and  hostess  seemed  pensive.  He  sung  one 
of  his  favorite  pieces,  and  they  appeared  much  affected. 
He  bowed  in  prayer,  and  for  the  first  time  they  kneeled. 
After  prayer  he  retired,  leaving  them  in  tears.  The 
landlord  afterward  tried,  during  Mr.  Ware’s  stay,  to  re¬ 
sume  his  former  gayety,  but  the  attempt  Avas  vain. 
More  than  thirty  years  afterward  he  visited  Mr.  Ware 
and  said,  “Father  Ware,  I  am  happy  to  see  you  once 
more.  Have  you  forgotten  the  sroav  storm  which  brought 
you  and  salvation  to  my  house?" 

Mr.  Ware  spent  the  last  years  of  his  life  in  Salem, 
NeAV  Jersey.  His  memory  is  blessed. 

Robert  Sparks  Avas  admitted  this  year  on  trial.  The 
following  year  he  Avas  appointed  to  Trenton  circuit  with 
Robert  Cann.  His  appointments  embraced  an  extensive 
territory,  and  in  1829  he  withdrew  from  the  Church. 

Adam  Cloud  was  admitted  in  1781  and  expelled  in 
1788.  His  conduct,  it  is  said,  did  not  give  general  sat- 


RESULTS  AND  LABORERS. 


351 


isfaction  to  the  Methodists  and  he  left  them,  and  the 
Conference  disowned  him  and  considered  him  expelled. 
It  has  been  said  that  he  afterwards  joined  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  became  settled  as  a  minister  in  one  of  the 
West  India  Islands. 

Robert  Cloud’s  early  life  was  spent  in  New  Castle 
county,  Delaware.  He  must  have  traveled  in  1778,  as 
in  1779  the  minutes  return  him  as  desisting  from  travel¬ 
ing.  He  re-entered  the  itinerancy  in  1785,  and  was  ap¬ 
pointed  to  East  Jersey,  and  was  as  we  have  seen,  an  im¬ 
portant  laborer  in  the  revival  that  occurred  on  Staten 
Island  this  year.  He  was  Thomas  Morrell’s  first  col¬ 
league,  and  the  latter  made  honorable  mention  of  him. 
In  1786  he  was  on  the  Newark  circuit,  N.  J. ;  1787, 
Elizabethtown;  1788,  Long  Island;  1789-90,  New 
York;  1791,  elder  over  a  district  which  included  the 
city  of  New  York.  In  1792  his  district  included,  among 
other  appointments,  the  Flanders,  Elizabethtown,  and 
Staten  Island  circuits.  He  located  in  1812.  He  is  said 
to  have  been  an  excellent  preacher,  but  he  at  length  un¬ 
fortunately  departed  from  the  narrow  path.  A  short 
time  previous  to  the  death  of  Rev.  Thomas  Morrell,  he 
received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Cloud  in  which  he  stated  that 
he  was  restored  to  the  Church,  and  intended  to  remain 
within  its  inclosure  till  his  death.  This  is  the  last  we 
know  concerning  him. 


352  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


John  M’Claskey  was  a  native  of  Ireland.  He  was 
born  in  1756,  emigrated  to  this  country  when  about  six¬ 
teen  years  of  age,  and  settled  in  Salem  county,  New 
Jersey.  He  was  a  prisoner  in  New  York  for  a  year  in 
the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  when  peace  was 
proclaimed,  he  “  went  begging  his  way  home  to  New  Jer¬ 
sey,  and  found  his  wife  had  died  during  his  absence.” 
He  was,  as  we  have  seen,  one  of  the  first  members  of 
the  class  at  Quinton’s  Bridge.  He  was  brother-in-law 
to  John  Ffirth,  the  compiler  of  the  Life  of  Abbott.  He 
entered  the  itinerancy  in  1785,  and  was  appointed  to 
Trenton  circuit.  The  first  five  years  of  his  itinerancy 
were  spent  in  New  Jersey.  In  1790  he  was  appointed 
to  Wilmington;  1791,  Chester.  In  1792  he  was  elder, 
his  district  comprising  Philadelphia,  Chester,  Wilming¬ 
ton,  and  Bristol.  In  1793  he  was  appointed  to  Balti¬ 
more  with  John  Haggerty.  He  remained  in  Baltimore 
in  1794  as  preacher  in  charge,  having  Robert  Sparks, 
Christopher  Spry,  and  George  Cannon,  as  colleagues. 
In  1795  he  was  stationed  alone  in  Baltimore  for  six 
months.  In  1796  he  was  elder  in  New  Jersey,  his  dis¬ 
trict  embracing  Delaware  and  Newburg,  Herkimer,  and 
Albany  in  the  state  of  New  York.  He  remained  on  this 
district  three  years.  In  1799,  1800,  and  1801  he  was 
stationed  in  New  York;  1802,  Philadelphia;  1803-4, 
Chestertown,  Md. ;  1805,  Talbot,  Md.  In  1806  he  was 


RESULTS  AND  LABORERS. 


353 


appointed  to  Salem,  but  through  indisposition  failed  to 
go.  In  1807  he  was  stationed  in  Wilmington.  In  1808 
he  was  appointed  to  Kent,  Md.,  where  he  remained  in 
1809.  His  appointment  in  1810  was  Talbot.  In  1811 
he  was  appointed  Missionary;  1812-13-14,  Presiding 
Elder  in  the  Chesapeake  district.  In  this  last  year  he 
finished  his  labors  and  departed  in  peace. 

Prior  to  his  conversion  he  “  was  rather  a  wild  young 
man,  much  addicted  to  the  common  vices  of  the  period,” 
such  as  drinking,  gambling,  &c.  Attracted  by  curiosity 
he  went  to  hear  the  Methodist  preachers  when  they  came 
into  his  neighborhood,  and  at  length  became  concerned 
for  his  salvation.  He  earnestly  sought  the  Lord,  and 
obtained  through  faith  the  great  salvation,  and  almost 
immediately  began  to  warn  sinners  to  repent,  which  he 
continued  to  do  until  he  was  thrust  into  the  itinerant 
field.  When  he  was  Presiding  Elder  in  New  Jersey  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  last  century,  he  attended  a  Quar¬ 
terly  meeting  at  Clonmell,  in  the  Salem  circuit.  “  There 
lived  in  the  neighborhood,”  says  one  who  remembers  the 
occasion,  “a  man  by  the  name  of  Patrick  Field,  who 
had  formerly  been  acquainted  with  Mr.  M’Claskey ;  in¬ 
deed,  they  were  both  old  countrymen :  however,  they 
were  old  cronies  in  crime,  playing  cards,  gambling, 
drinking,  &c.  But  M’Claskey  had  become  religious — a 
preacher ;  and  now  came  to  see  his  old  comrade  and  in- 


354  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

vited  him  to  the  meeting.  Patrick  was  a  Roman  Catho¬ 
lic,  and  had  felt  no  serious  impressions  at  the  Saturday 
meetings.  On  Sunday  morning  when  invited  to  break¬ 
fast,  Mr.  M’Claskey  spoke  to  him  on  the  subject  of  re¬ 
ligion  ;  and  when  he  offered  to  pray  for  him,  Patrick  was 
convicted.  He  thought,  and  expressed  it,  ‘Why,  how 
is  it  that  the  preacher  felt  such  a  desire  for  my  salva¬ 
tion,  and  I  am  so  indifferent  on  the  subject  myself?’ 
His  convictions  became  more  deep  and  painful  until  the 
hour  of  preaching  came ;  the  house  could  not  hold  the 
people,  and  the  meeting  was  held  in  the  adjoining  woods. 
This  was  a  day  of  the  Lord’s  power.  Many  fell  to  the 
ground  and  cried  aloud  for  mercy ;  young  men  climbed 
the  trees  in  order  to  see  into  the  midst  of  the  congrega¬ 
tion  ;  while  the  greatest  excitement  prevailed.  During 
the  service  or  preaching  an  awful  thunder  storm  arose ; 
a  peal  of  thunder  rolled  over  the  assembly.  The  very 
earth  trembled ;  those  in  the  trees  attempted  to  slide 
down ;  many  fell ;  others  ran  in  every  direction ;  that 
terrific  day  I  shall  never  forget.  In  the  mean  time  Pat¬ 
rick  Field  had  obtained  a  blessing ;  and,  in  the  midst  of 
the  confusion  and  crowd,  was  shouting  in  so  boisterous  a 
manner  that  Mr.  M’Claskey  stopped  preaching  for  some 
time,  and  told  the  people  that  Patrick  Field  was  out- 
preaching  him.  One  young  woman  cried  aloud  for 
mercy  as  she  fell  to  the  ground ;  and  her  brother,  a 


RESULTS  AND  LABORERS. 


355 


large,  strong  man,  rushed  into  the  crowd  and  carried 
her  away.  Many  were  converted,  and  it  was  a  time  of 
refreshing  to  the  Lord’s  people.”* 

M’Claskey,  it  is  said,  was  a  splendid  looking  man, 
large,  with  fine  flowing  locks,  and  his  presence  in  the 
pulpit  was  very  commanding.  “An  aged  minister,” 
says  Rev.  J.  B.  Wakely,  “who  is  hovering  between  two 
worlds,  gave  me  an  account  of  a  sermon  Mr.  M’Claskey 
preached  in  old  John  street,  about  the  year  1810,  before 
the  Conference  on  a  fast  day.  His  theme  was,  ‘Weep¬ 
ing  between  the  porch  and  the  altar.’  He  said  it  was  a 
most  masterly  effort.  The  baptism  of  tears  took  place 
as  the  preacher  showed  why  ministers  should  weep,  the 
causes  for  deep  feeling,  for  melting  sympathy,  for  flowing 
tears.” 

His  brethren  have  recorded  the  following  tribute  to 
his  worth:  “As  a  Christian,  he  was  deeply  experienced 
in  the  grace  of  God.  As  a  minister,  he  was  mighty  in 
the  Scriptures,  orthodox  in  his  sentiments,  systematic  in 
his  preaching,  zealous  in  his  labors ;  the  blessed  effects 
of  which  were  witnessed  by  thousands,  many  of  whom 
are  gone  before  him,  while  others  are  left  to  unite  with 
us  in  deploring  the  loss  of  their  venerable  father  in 
Christ.  In  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  was  greatly  af¬ 
flicted,  and  suffered  much;  in  all  of  which  he  manifested 

*  Reminiscences  of  Methodism. 


356  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

great  patience  and  confidence  in  God.  He  preached  his 
last  sermon  at  the  Quarterly  meeting  at  Church  Hill,  on 
Queen  Ann’s  circuit,  from  Isaiah  lxi.  1,  2,  3.  It  was 
observed  that  he  was  peculiarly  energetic,  his  own  soul 
was  much  blessed  and  drawn  out  in  the  cause  of  God, 
while  a  deep  solemnity  rested  upon  the  audience.  He 
was  taken  with  his  last  illness  at  his  dwelling  in  Chester- 
town,  in  the  State  of  Maryland,  on  the  21st  day  of  Au¬ 
gust,  in  which  he  desired  to  depart  and  to  be  with  Christ, 
and  was  often  heard  to  sing, — 

Surely  Thou  wilt  not  loDg  delay, 

I  hear  the  Spirit  cry, 

1  Arise,  my  love,  make  haste  away, 

Go,  get  thee  up  and  die.’ 

On  Friday  morning,  the  ninth  day  of  his  illness,  about 
four  o’clock,  he  closed  his  eyes  in  peace,  and  without  a 
a  sigh  or  groan  departed  this  life,  Sept.  2,  1814.” 

Jacob  Brush  was  a  native  of  Long  Island.  He  en¬ 
tered  the  itinerancy  in  1785,  and  was  appointed  to  Tren¬ 
ton  circuit.  In  1786  he  was  sent  to  West  Jersev.  In 

%! 

1787-8-9  he  was  on  circuits  in  Delaware  and  Maryland. 
In  1790  he  was  appointed  to  New  Rochelle,  with  William 
Phoebus  and  M.  Swaim.  It  appears  that  he  labored  in 
New  York  a  part  of  this  year.  He  was  reappointed  to 
New  Rochelle  in  1791.  About  the  middle  of  July  he 


RESULTS  AND  LABORERS. 


357 


took  charge  of  a  district  “  which  included  Long  Island, 
other  portions  of  New  York,  and  the  State  of  Connecti¬ 
cut  as  far  east  as  the  Connecticut  river,  and  as  far  north 
as  the  city  of  Hartford,  sharing  with  Lee  (who  was 
Presiding  Elder,  the  same  year,  of  Boston  district)  the 
entire  Presiding  Eldership  of  New  England.”  In  1793 
he  was  elder  over  a  district  all  of  which  lay  in  the  State 
of  New  York  except  Elizabethtown  and  Flanders  circuits, 
in  New  Jersey.  In  1794  he  was  Supernumerary  in  the 
city  of  New  York.  He  died  in  New  York  of  the  epi¬ 
demical  fever  in  September,  1795.  He  was  an  active, 
laborious  minister,  and  “  a  great  friend  to  order  and 
union.”  He  was  afflicted  with  an  inflammatory  sore 
throat,  which  interfered  to  some  extent  with  his  useful¬ 
ness.  His  last  illness  was  so  severe  that  little  could  be 
known  concerning  the  state  of  his  mind,  but  “just  be¬ 
fore  he  died,  a  preacher  who  was  present  took  him  by 
the  hand,  and  asked  him  if  he  was  happy.  Not  being 
able  to  speak,  he  gave  his  hand  an  affectionate  squeeze, 
with  an  expression  in  his  appearance  of  a  calm  resigna¬ 
tion  to  God.  We  entertain  no  doubt  but  he  rests  in 
Abraham’s  bosom.”* 


*  Minutes,  1796. 


358  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

PROSPECTS,  RESULTS,  AND  LABORERS. 

In  1786,  a  little  over  a  year  after  the  organization  of 
the  Church,  New  Jersey  reported  its  membership  as 
follows:  West  Jersey,  492  ;  Trenton,  352;  East  Jersey, 
365 ;  Newark,  50 ;  making  an  aggregate  of  1259  mem¬ 
bers  in  the  State,  including  Staten  Island.  This  was 
the  result  of  more  than  fifteen  years’  labor.  Truly  the 
progress  of  the  work  was  not  remarkably  flattering. 
And  yet  who  will  say  that  twelve  hundred  and  fifty-nine 
souls,  gathered  into  the  Church,  and  rejoicing,  as  most 
of  them,  no  doubt,  were,  in  the  salvation  of  the  gospel, 
were  not  an  abundant,  a  glorious  compensation  for  all 
that  sacrifice  and  toil?  And  then  the  prospects  were 
brightening.  The  annual  increase  was  becoming  greater. 
Prejudices  were  being  overcome,  strong  societies  were 
rising  up,  churches  were  being  built,  and  in  every  way 
the  aspects  of  the  cause  were  more  encouraging  and  the 


PROSPECTS,  RESULTS,  AND  LABORERS.  359 

future  was  radiant  with  brighter  visions  of  success  than 
ever  before. 

We  have  already  noticed,  with  more  or  less  of  detail, 
the  more  important  points  in  which  Methodism  had  been 
established  during  this  period.  In  the  West  Jersey  cir¬ 
cuit  there  were  two  societies  at  Pittsgrove,  one  at  Sa¬ 
lem,  Maurice  river,  Quinton’s  Bridge,  Penn’s  Neck, 
Pleasant  Mills,  Goodluck,  and  Greenwich.  Trenton 
circuit  probably  included  the  societies  of  New  Mills,  Tx*en- 
ton,  Mount  Holly,  Burlington,  and  Monmouth.  Newark 
circuit  included  Elizabethtown  and  Staten  Island.  East 
Jersev  embraced  the  societies  of  New  Germantown,  As- 
bury,  and  Flanders.  In  various  other  localities  there 
were  classes,  no  doubt,  and  in  several  of  the  above 
named  places  the  societies  had  gained  such  strength  that 
they  had  erected  Chapels.  This  Avas  certainly  true  of 
Trenton,  New  Mills,  Greemvich,  Salem,  Maurice  river, 
Pleasant  Mills,  Goodluck,  Pittsgrove,*  and  possibly  of 

*It  is  probable  that  there  were  two  Chapels  in  Pittsgrove  at  this 
time.  I  am  not  able  to  give  the  precise  date  of  the  erection  of  either 
Church,  but  I  have  good  authority  for  the  assertion  that  the  Broad 
Neck  Chapel  was  built  as  early  as  1785  or  1786  ;  and  as  Murphy’s  or 
Friendship  was  the  first  society,  and  as  the  Church  there  Avas  rebuilt 
more  than  twenty  years  before  that  at  Broad  Neck,  it  is  entirely  pro¬ 
bable  that  it  was  built  first.  This  accords,  too,  with  the  tradition  of 
the  place.  The  Broad  Neck  society  must  have  been  formed  very  soon 
after  that  at  Murphy's ,  and  as  Abbott  lived  only  a  few  miles  from 


360  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

Flanders.  When  it  is  remembered  that  during  this  pe¬ 
riod  there  had  been  a  deeply  exciting  and  desolating 
seven  years’  war,  the  effects  of  which  were  seriously  felt 
in  New  Jersey ;  that  the  Church  had  only  the  most  slen¬ 
der  resources,  except  those  which  were  Divine ;  that  it 
was  without  a  regular  organization,  and  its  ministry 
without  orders ;  its  condition  at  this  period  of  its  history 
with  a  considerable  number  of  societies,  and  several 
churches  erected,  was  certainly  evidence  of  no  mean 
success.  Equipped  for  her  career  of  trial  and  conflict, 
and  panting  for  wider  and  grander  scenes  of  battle  and 
conquest,  the  Methodism  of  New  Jersey  rushed  forward 
to  the  sublime  arena  before  her ;  while  the  splendors  of 
her  future  triumphs,  like  the  rays  of  light  which  gleam 
amid  the  darkness  long  before  the  sun  appears,  beamed, 
from  afar,  upon  her  path. 

The  appointments  in  1786  were  as  follows  :  Thomas 
Yasey  being  elder  in  West  Jersey,  and  John  Tunnell 
elder  in  East  Jersey.  Trenton,  Robert  Sparks,  Robert 
Cann.  West  Jersey,  Jacob  Brush,  John  Simmons,  Ja- 

there  he  probably  formed  it  very  shortly  after  he  began  his  ministry. 
I  am  strongly  inclined  to  the  opiniou  that  this  was  the  society,  the 
origin  of  which  is  given  on  page  108.  It  would  be  quite  natural  for 
the  profane  to  substitute  Hell  Neck  for  Broad  Neck,  the  former  name 
being  designed  merely  to  correspond  with  the  morals  of  the  place. 


PROSPECTS,  RESULTS,  AND  LABORERS.  361 

cob  Lurton.  East  Jersey,  John  M’Claskey,  Ezekiel 
Cooper.  Newark,  Robert  Cloud. 

While  laboring  this  year  on  Staten  Island,  which 
formed  a  part  of  the  Newark  (or  Elizabethtown)  circuit, 
Mr.  Cloud  had  a  public  rencounter  with  a  Baptist  cler¬ 
gyman  in  which  he  triumphantly  vindicated  Methodism. 
An  account  of  it  has  been  kindly  furnished  for  these 
pages  by  Rev.  Francis  A.  Morrell,  of  the  New  Jersey 
Conference.  It  is  as  follows  : — 

“  The  Baptist  challenged  Mr.  Cloud  to  a  public  dis¬ 
cussion  of  the  points  of  difference  between  Calvinists 
and  Methodists.  The  challenge  was  accepted  and  a  day 
fixed  upon  for  the  discussion.  A  minister  of  the  Bap¬ 
tist  Church  and  my  father,  the  colleague  of  Mr  Cloud, 
were  elected  to  preside  at  the  meeting  that  no  undue  ad¬ 
vantage  might  be  taken  on  either  side.  On  the  way  to 
the  place  of  meeting,  the  Baptist  polemic  called  at  the 
house  of  one  of  his  friends  and  said,  ‘  I  pity  the  Meth¬ 
odist,  (Mr.  Cloud,)  for  I  shall  easily  overthrow  his  posi¬ 
tions,  and  utterly  deipolish  him.’  He  seemed  not  aware 
of  the  strength  of  the  positions  of  his  antagonist,  and 
of  his  ability  to  defend  them.  A  multitude  assembled 
to  hear  the  debate.  The  meeting  being  organized,  the 
discussion  commenced  with  a  speech  from  Mr.  Cloud,  in 
Avhich  he  gave  so  clear  an  exposition  of  Methodist  the¬ 
ology,  its  agreement  with  the  word  of  God,  and  of  the 


362  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

inconsistencies  and  absurdities  of  Calvinism,  that  his 
antagonist  was  scarcely  able  to  make  any  reply,  speak¬ 
ing  only  about  half  the  time  allotted  to  each  speaker, 
and  sat  down.  Mr.  Cloud  arose  and  spoke  for  a  few 
minutes,  observing  that  his  arguments  were  unrefuted, 
and  as  his  antagonist  had  given  him  but  little,  if  any¬ 
thing,  to  reply  to,  he  would  take  his  seat.  No  rejoinder 
being  given,  after  a  pause,  my  father  arose  and  said, 
‘  As  the  discussion  appears  to  be  closed,  I  put  it  to  the 
audience  to  decide  whether  Mr.  Cloud  or  his  opponent 
has  triumphed.’  A  rising  vote  was  taken,  and  Mr. 
Cloud  declared  the  victor  by  an  almost  unanimous  vote. 

“  Methodism,  which  was  at  that  time  feeble  on  the 
Island,  began  to  take  root.  The  people  flocked  to  hear 
the  ‘  circuit  preachers,’  received  the  truth  gladly,  and 
1  the  word  of  God  grew  and  multiplied.’  ” 

Some  time  during  1785  Adam  Cloud  and  Matthew 
Greentree,  who  then  traveled  East  Jersey  circuit,  visited 
Ilightstown,  and  established  preaching  in  a  tavern  kept 
by  one  Adam  Shaw.  They  received,  however,  but  little 
encouragement.  John  M’Claskey  and  Ezekiel  Cooper, 
who  succeeded  them  on  the  circuit  this  year,  did  not  re¬ 
gard  the  appointment  with  much  favor,  and  it  is  not  cer¬ 
tain  that  Cooper  preached  there.  M’Claskey  preached 
there  once  or  twice,  “and  then  publicly  informed  the 
congregation  that  he  would  preach  there  once  more,  and 


PROSPECTS,  RESULTS,  AND  LABORERS.  363 

then  if  a  more  suitable  place  for  holding  meeting  could 
not  be  found  he  should  cease  to  preach  for  them.  Ro¬ 
bert  Hutchinson,  a  young  man  of  about  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  was  present ;  and,  being  pleased  with  the 
preacher,  was  unwilling  to  be  deprived  of  the  privilege 
of  hearing  him.  He,  therefore,  persuaded  his 'uncle, 
Joseph  Hutchinson,  to  go  and  hear  M’Claskey,  and  in¬ 
vite  him  to  preach  at  his  house.  The  invitation  was 
given  and  accepted,  and  thus,  early  in  the  year  1786, 
the  preaching  was  transferred  from  Hightstown  to  Mil¬ 
ford,  about  two  and  a  half  miles  from  the  former  place. 
Joseph  Hutchinson’s  was  quite  a  rendezvous  for  the 
weary  itinerants,  and  being  near  the  line  between  ‘  East’ 
and  ‘West  Jersey,’  the  preachers  on  the  two  charges 
wrould  sometimes  meet  here.  Robert  Hutchinson,  with 
three  brothers,  Ezekiel,  Sylvester,  and  Aaron,  all  four 
of  whom  afterward  became  preachers,  went  over  to  uncle 
Joseph’s  to  ‘have  the  small-pox,’  as  they  were  accus¬ 
tomed  to  call  it  in  ‘olden  time.’  While  there  they  met 
with  a  number  of  traveling  preachers.  On  one  occasion 
there  were  several  together.  Ezekiel  Cooper,  J.  M’Clas¬ 
key  from  ‘  East  Jersey,’  and  Robert  Sparks  from  ‘West 
Jersey,’  among  the  number.  They  became  wonderfully 
attached  to  them ;  and  their  preaching  and  conversation 
made  impressions  which  resulted  in  their  conversion. 
During  the  year  a  class  was  organized ;  and,  among  the 


364  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

number  of  its  members  were  Joseph  Hutchinson  and 
wife.  This  brother  was  very  zealous  and  enterprising, 
and  soon  after  the  organization  of  the  class,  he  erected 
at  Milford,  almost  entirely  at  his  own  expense,  a  house 
of  worship  for  the  despised  band.  The  location  was  un¬ 
favorable  however,  and  from  this  or  other  causes  the 
society  never  became  large.  It  continued  to  be  used  as 
a  place  of  worship  down  to  about  1835,  when  a  church 
was  built  at  Hightstown,  after  which  it  was  sold.  The 
old  church  was  the  scene  of  stirring  times,  and  many 
have  there  fallen  under  the  power  of  God,  and  many 
passed  from  death  unto  life.  Among  the  number  con¬ 
verted  here  were  four  sons  of  William  Hutchinson, 
brother  of  Joseph,  named  respectively,  Ezekiel,  Robert, 
Sylvester,  and  Aaron,  who  all  became  ministers  of  the 
M.  E.  Church.”* 

Asbury,  the  indefatigable  servant  and  the  wise  over¬ 
seer  of  the  Church,  urged  his  way  heroically  through  the 
sands  of  West  Jersey  this  year,  to  minister  to  the 
spiritual  necessities  of  the  scattered  flock.  “  Since  this 
day  week,”  he  says,  “we  have  ridden  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  over  dead  sands,  and  among  a  dead  peo¬ 
ple,  and  a  long  space  between  meals.”  The  ensuing 
day,  the  29th  of  September,  he  says  he  “preached  in  a 
close  hot  place,  and  administered  the  sacrament.  I  was 

*  Communication  of  Rev.  Henry  B.  Beegle  to  the  writer. 


PROSPECTS,  RESULTS,  AND  LABORERS.  365 

almost  ready  to  faint.  I  feel  fatigued  and  much  dispir¬ 
ited.”  This  was,  probably,  the  Pleasant  Mills’  Chapel, 
as  he  says  he  lodged  with  Freedom  Lucas,  near  Batsto, 
which  place  is  only  about  a  mile  from  Pleasant  Mills. 
Asbury  knew  the  tendency  of  worldly  prosperity  to  im¬ 
properly  exalt  the  mind  and  divest  the  Christian  of  his 
simplicity.  Hence  he  said  of  Lucas,  “We  shall  see 
whether  he  will  continue  to  be  the  same  simple-hearted 
Christian  he  now  is,  when  he  gets  possession  of  the  es¬ 
tate  which,  it  is  said,  has  fallen  to  him  in  England.” 
He  was  at  Cape  May,  and  other  places  in  that  region, 
but  the  impressions  he  received  of  the  religious  condi¬ 
tion  of  the  societies  were  not  of  a  sanguine  character. 
Of  the  Cape  he  says :  “  I  find  there  is  a  great  dearth  of 
religion  in  these  parts.”  He  was  also  at  P.  Cresey’s 
where  he  “  had  a  few  cold  hearers — the  glory,”  he 
writes,  “  is  strangely  departed.  There  are  a  few  pious 
souls  at  Gough’s ;  but  here  also  there  is  an  evident  de¬ 
clension.  My  soul  is  under  deep  exercise  on  account  of 
the  deadness  of  the  people,  and  my  own  want  of  fervor 
and  holiness  of  heart.”  On  Friday,  the  sixth  of  Octo¬ 
ber,  he  preached  a  warm  and  close  sermon  to  a  people 
who  were  attentive  to  the  word  at  the  Maurice  river 
Church.  His  text  was,  “  Lord,  are  there  few  that  be 
saved?”  On  Sabbath  he  preached  at  New  England- 

town.  He  says:  “  We  had  a  small  house  and  large  con- 
23 


36G  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

gregation.  I  had  liberty  in  preaching  on,  ‘  By  grace 
are  ye  saved  through  faith.’  Thence  I  proceeded  to 

M - ’s,  where  I  had  poor  times.”  At  Murphy’s,  he 

says,  “We  had  many  dull,  prayerless  people.  We  came 
to  the  widow  Ayars’s  ;  the  mother  and  daughters  are  se¬ 
rious,  and  the  son  thoughtful.”  Mrs.  Susannah  Ayars, 
of  whom  Asbury  here  speaks,  was  one  of  the  first  Meth¬ 
odists  in  Pittsgrove.  She  first  received  “  the  Lord’s 
prophets”  in  that  place.  She  died  in  peace  about  1807. 

He  preached  at  Bethel,  on  1  Peter  iii.  18.  “  Three 

times,”  he  says,  “have  I  been  here,  and  always  strait¬ 
ened  in  spirit.”  He  also  visited  Sandtown.  The 
weather  was  very  warm  and  the  people  dull.  He  ad¬ 
ministered  the  sacrament.  There  must  have  been  a  so¬ 
ciety  there,  or  else  it  does  not  appear  probable  he  wTould 
have  held  a  sacramental  service.  He  rode  to  Cooper’s 
ferry,  and  crossed  to  the  city,  where  he  spent  the  Sab¬ 
bath.  On  Monday  he  rode  to  Mount  Holly,  where  he 
preached  on  “  Come,  ye  blessed  of  my  father,”  &c. ; 
and  at  New  Mills  he  addressed  them  on  “  Suffering  af¬ 
fliction  with  the  people  of  God.”  He  preached  also  at 
Burlington  on  “  Neither  is  there  salvation  in  any  other,” 
&c. ;  “these,”  he  says,  “are  not  a  zealous  people  for  re¬ 
ligion.”  The  bishop’s  impressions  of  the  spiritual  con¬ 
dition  of  the  people  appear  to  have  been  unfavorable 
in  most  of  the  societies  he  visited  in  New  Jersey  at  this 


PROSPECTS,  RESULTS,  AND  LABORERS.  367 

time.  At  Monmouth  he  preached  at  Leonard’s  and  the 
people,  he  said,  appeared  very  lifeless.  At  the  Potter’s 
Church  he  had  many  to  hear,  “but  the  people,”  he  says, 
“were  insensible  and  unfeeling.” 

The  society  in  Penn’s  Neck,  through  the  character¬ 
istic  zeal  and  energy  of  Abbott,  were  favored  with  a 
Chapel  about  this  year.  “I  had  often  urged  on  the 
people,”  says  Abbott,  “  the  necessity  of  building  a  meet¬ 
ing-house,  for  the  space  of  about  four  years,  in  Lower 
Penn’s  Neck,  during  which  period  we  had  frequently 
held  our  meetings  under  the  trees  when  the  weather  ad¬ 
mitted.  One  day  meeting  with  a  carpenter,  I  agreed 
with  him  to  build  one.  He  came  at  the  time  appointed. 
I  told  him  that  we  had  got  no  timber  for  the  building, 
and  therefore  I  must  go  a  begging.  Accordingly  we 
set  out  and  went  to  a  neighbor,  and  told  him  we  were 
going  to  build  a  house  for  God,  and  asked  him  what  he 
would  give  us  toward  it;  he  answered,  two  sticks  of  tim¬ 
ber  for  sills.  We  then  went  to  the  widow  M’C’s,  a  pro¬ 
fessing  Quaker,  and  she  gave  us  two  more,  and  sent  her 
team  to  haul  them  to  the  place.  We  then  went  to  Mr. 
Wm.  Philpot,  and  he  gave  us  sufficient  for  the  house, 
though  not  even  a  professor  with  us ;  may  the  Lord  re¬ 
ward  him  accordingly.  I  then  went  among  our  friends, 
and  told  them  that  they  must  come  and  help  to  get  the 
timber;  they  did  so,  and  we  began  on  Tuesday  morning, 


368  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

and  by  Friday  nigbt  we  had  all  the  timber  at  the  place. 
Brother  Henry  Ffirth,  a  steward  of  the  circuit,  and  my¬ 
self,  were  appointed  managers  to  carry  on  the  building. 
The  Friday  week  following,  we  raised  our  house,  and  in 
the  afternoon  preached  on  the  foundation.  In  six  weeks 
the  carpenter  had  done  his  work,  and  I  begged  the 
money  and  paid  him.  This  proved  a  great  blessing  to 
the  neighborhood,  the  greater  part  of  which  became 
Methodized,  and  many  were  moralized  and  Christianized, 
while  the  enemies  of  truth  daily  lost  ground,  and  bigotry 
gradually  declined.” 

A  Quarterly  meeting  was  held  in  Penn’s  Neck  during 
the  present  decade,  in  Joseph  Cassner’s  barn.  B.  Ab¬ 
bott,  a  local  preacher  named  Stratton,  and  many  others, 
attended.  'It  was  a  time  of  power.  The  people  lay 
prostrate  over  the  barn  floor,  many  obtained  religion  and 
joined  the  Methodists. 

Notwithstanding  the  deadness  of  the  people  in  West 
Jersey,  of  which  Asbury  complained,  the  work  progressed ; 
and  an  increase  of  sixty-five  was  reported  of  the  West 
Jersey,  and  twenty  of  the  Trenton  circuit,  making  an 
addition  of  eighty-five  to  the  membership  in  West  Jer¬ 
sey.  In  addition  to  this  the  work  had  extended  to  the 
people  of  color,  and  eight  colored  members  were  reported 
in  West  Jersey  this  year. 

Though  the  mission  of  Methodism  has  been  more  es- 


PROSPECTS,  RESULTS,  AND  LABORERS.  369 

pecially  to  the  lower  classes,  and  its  greatest  moral 
achievements  have  been  chiefly  among  them,  yet  has  it 
also  shown  its  adaptation  to  meet  the  spiritual  necessities 
of  the  more  wealthy,  cultivated,  and  influential.  Thou¬ 
sands  of  such  have  borne  cheerful  and  emphatic  testi¬ 
mony  to  its  power  as  a  redemptive  agency,  and  have  re¬ 
joiced  to  number  themselves  among  its  trophies. 

One  such  trophy  was  gained  to  the  cause  this  year  in 
Warren  county.  It  was  Col.  William  M’Cullough. 
He  was,  at  this  time,  about  twenty-seven  years  of  age. 
He  witnessed  the  Revolutionary  struggle,  and  bore  a 
part  in  it  in  favor  of  the  colonies.  He  now  became  the 
standard  bearer  of  Methodism  in  Asbury,  and  about  ten 
years  afterward  erected  a  Chapel  there  almost  entirely 
by  his  own  means.  This  was  the  first  Methodist  Church 
in  Warren  and  Sussex  counties.  He  was  among  the 
most  prominent  Methodists  in  the  State,  and  his  influ¬ 
ence  was  strongly  felt  in  the  region  where  he  resided, 
and  especially  upon  his  own  family.  By  his  godly  ex¬ 
ample  and  counsels  they  were  prepared  to  receive  the 
truth  from  the  pulpit,  and  his  children  and  children’s 
children  became  consecrated  offerings  to  Methodism. 
He  was  a  man  of  a  progressive  spirit,  and  exercised  his 
influence  to  promote  internal  improvements.  He  occu¬ 
pied  important  and  responsible  civil  positions,  filling 
some  of  the  most  respectable  offices  of  his  county,  and 


370  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

for  more  than  thirty  years  acted  as  an  associate  judge 
in  the  courts  of  Sussex  and  Warren.  He  was  also  fre¬ 
quently  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  legislative  council  of  the 
State.  He  was  a  steward  of  the  circuit,  and  in  his 
pleasant  dwelling  the  preachers  found  a  congenial  home. 
Bishop  Ashury,  Avhen  traveling  in  that  region,  was  ac¬ 
customed  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  his  hospitality.  He 
lived  to  a  good  old  age,  and,  as  he  passed  down  the 
vale  of  years,  religion  shed  its  serene  and  benignant 
light  upon  his  path.  Having  passed  beyond  the  period 
of  three-score  and  ten,  he  waited  in  cheerful  confidence 
and  hope  for  his  change.  His  last  illness  was  mild  and 
brief,  and  his  final  hour  was  distinguished  by  the  calm¬ 
ness  of  Christian  peace,  and  the  triumphs  of  Christian 
faith.  After  the  power  of  speech  had  failed,  a  relative 
asked  him  if  his  confidence  in  Christ  was  still  unshaken, 
and  if  so,  to  raise  his  right  hand.  He  immediately 
raised  both,  one  after  the  other,  and  attempted  to  elevate 
his  whole  body,  thus  evincing  how  powerful  was  the 
grace  he  had  professed  for  over  half  a  century  to  sustain 
him  as  he  stood  amidst  the  swellings  of  Jordan.  He 
died  at  his  residence  at  Asbury  on  the  9th  of  February, 
1840,  in  the  eighty-second  year  of  his  age.  Asbury  ap¬ 
pears  to  have  been  one  of  the  first  localities  in  East  Jer¬ 
sey  into  which  Methodism  was  introduced,  but  the  pre¬ 
cise  time  and  manner  of  its  introduction  are  now  un- 


PROSPECTS,  RESULTS,  AND  LABORERS.  371 

known.  The  Rev.  Jacob  P.  Daily,  the  present  pastor 
of  the  Church  there,  in  a  letter  to  the  writer  says : 

“  Unfortunately  for  the  historic  interests  of  this  place, 
there  are  no  local  records  of  Methodism  here  for  the 
period  embraced  in  your  work.  I  doubt  very  much 
whether  there  ever  were  any  such  records,  beyond  a 
class  book,  until  1795.  From  conversation  with  some 
very  old  members  of  our  Church  some  time  since,  I  con¬ 
clude  that  Methodism  wras  introduced  into  this  region 
prior  to  the  Revolution.  Dr.  Coke  once  passed  this 
way  and  called  on  some  Methodist  families.  Our  oldest 
living  member,  aged  ninety-six,  remembers  Joseph  Ev¬ 
erett  as  ‘the  first  Methodist  minister  she  ever  heard 
preach.’  There  were  some  Methodists  before  that  day. 
She  describes  Everett  as  a  fine  sized,  fine  looking  man, 
wearing  a  Quaker  hat,  and  a  suit  of  drab  colored  4  home- 
spun.’  ”  Mr.  Daily  further  says  that  there  are  no  in¬ 
cidents  of  Methodism  during  the  period  of  this  volume 
to  be  gathered  in  Asbury,  as  no  data  of  that  sort  now 
exist.  Nearly  all  the  first  members  of  the  first  societies 
have  passed  away,  and  much  of  our  history  has  departed 
with  them.  The  wonder  is  not  that  so  little  now  re¬ 
mains,  but  it  is  rather  a  marvel,  considering  the  indiffer¬ 
ence  of  the  Church  and  ministry  generally  to  this  sub¬ 
ject,  that  we  are  able  to  obtain  so  many  reminiscences 
of  the  past.  Had  the  attempt  which  we  are  now  making 


372  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

been  faithfully  made  twenty  years  ago,  much  might  have 
been  rescued  which  is  now  irrecoverably  lost.  And  yet 
we  should  be  thankful  for  what  has  been  done.  Suffi¬ 
cient  historical  material  has  been  preserved  to  enable  us 
to  trace,  with  a  good  degree  of  distinctness,  the  begin¬ 
nings,  struggles,  and  successes  of  Methodism  in  our 
State. 

There  was  a  handsome  addition  made  to  the  member¬ 
ship  in  East  Jersey  this  year.  The  largest  increase  was 
on  the  Newark  (it  is  reported  Elizabethtown  at  the  end 
of  the  year)  circuit,  which  was  largely,  and,  perhaps, 
chiefly,  owing  to  the  revival  which  had  taken  place  on 
Staten  Island.  There  was  reported  an  increase  on  this 
circuit  of  190  members.  In  the  East  Jersey  circuit  just 
one  hundred  were  added  to  the  membership,  making  an 
addition  of  290  for  the  Northern  part  of  the  work. 

Of  the  ten  preachers  that  labored  in  New  Jersey  this 
year,  five  had  previously  labored  in  the  State,  and  no¬ 
tices  of  them  have  already  been  given.  To  those  who 
appear  for  the  first  time  in  our  pathway  our  attention 
will  now  be  turned. 

Thomas  Yasey  came  to  America  with  Dr.  Coke  and 
Richard  Whatcoat,  in  1784,  just  before  the  organization 
of  the  Church.  He  was  one  of  the  first  Methodist 
preachers  that  was  ordained.  In  process  of  time  he  ob¬ 
tained  reordination  by  a  bishop  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 


PROSPECTS,  RESULTS,  AND  LABORERS.  373 

copal  Church,  and  sometime  afterward  returned  to  Eng¬ 
land  ;  but  it  is  believed  he  was  never  recognized  there  as 
a  minister  of  the  Church  of  England. 

Robert  Cann  entered  the  itinerancy  in  1785,  and 
was  appointed  to  Annamessex,  Md.  In  1786  he  appears 
as  remaining  on  trial,  and  was  appointed  to  Trenton,  N. 
J.  In  1787  he  was  sent  to  travel  the  West  Jersey  cir¬ 
cuit,  but  his  name  stands  connected  also  with  Clarksburg 
circuit;  in  1788  he  was  appointed  to  Chester,  Pa.;  1789, 
Bristol,  Pa. ;  1790,  Bethel,  N.  J. ;  1791,  Trenton,  N.  J. ; 
in  1792  he  again  traveled  Bethel  circuit,  N.  J.  In  1793 
lie  was  appointed  to  Burlington.  He  located  in  1794. 
He  continued  in  the  itinerancy  longer  after  he  was  mar¬ 
ried  than  the  preachers  of  that  day  appear  to  have  been 
accustomed  to  do.  He  was  married  in  1788,  and  did 
nor  locate  till  six  years  afterward.  The  slight  notices 
of  him  we  have  been  able  to  obtain  represent  him  as  an 
earnest,  zealous,  and  effective  preacher,  declaring  the 
word  in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit,  and  of  power.  He 
died  in  1796,  leaving  a  widow  and  two  small  children. 

John  Simmons  was  admitted  on  trial  in  1786,  and  ap¬ 
pointed  to  West  Jersey.  In  1787  he  was  appointed  to 
Alleghany.  He  labored  in  various  places  in  Maryland, 
Virginia,  South  Carolina,  Jtnd  elsewhere.  In  1807  he 
located. 

Jacob  Burton  was  also  admitted  this  year,  and  ap- 


374  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

pointed  to  West  Jersey.  The  following  year  he  was 
sent  to  Berkeley,  Va.  He  continued  to  labor  in  Virginia 
and  elsewhere  until  1795,  when  he  located,  and  disap¬ 
peared  from  our  view. 

Ezekiel  Cooper  was  horn  in  Caroline  Co.,  Md.,  Eeb. 
22,  1763.  When  he  was  about  thirteen  years  of  age 
Rev.  Freeborn  Garrettson  visited  the  neighborhood  and 
preached.  While  preaching  he  noticed  a  boy  of  thought¬ 
ful  aspect  leaning  upon  a  gate,  and  giving,  apparently, 
close  attention  to  the  sermon.  That  boy  was  Ezekiel 
Cooper,  afterward  so  prominent  a  character  in  the  history 
of  the  Church. 

It  was  the  privilege  of  Cooper  to  be  present  at  the 
memorable  meeting  of  Coke  and  Asbury,  at  Barrett’s 
Chapel,  Md.,  on  the  14th  of  November,  1784.  He  thus 
describes  the  scene :  “  While  Dr.  Coke  was  preaching, 
Mr.  Asbury  came  into  the  congregation.  A  solemn 
pause  and  deep  silence  took  place  at  the  close  of  the 
sermon,  as  an  interval  for  introduction  and  salutation. 
Asbury  and  Coke,  with  great  solemnity,  and  much  dig¬ 
nified  sensibility,  and  with  full  hearts  of  brotherly  love, 
approached,  embraced,  and  saluted  each  other.  The 
other  preachers,  at  the  same  time,  participating  in  the 
tender  sensibilities  of  the  affectionate  salutations,  were 
melted  into  sweet  sympathy  and  tears.  The  congrega¬ 
tion  also  caught  the  glowing  emotion,  and  the  whole  as- 


PROSPECTS,  RESULTS,  AND  LABORERS.  375 

sembly,  as  if  Divinely  struck  with  a  shock  of  heavenly 
electricity,  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears.  Every  heart  ap¬ 
peared  as  if  filled  and  overflowing  with  love,  unity,  and 
fellowship ;  and  a  kind  of  ecstasy,  or  rapture  of  joy  and 
gladness,  ensued.” 

It  was  on  this  occasion  that  Cooper  first  received  the 
sacrament  of  the  Lord’s  Supper.  It  was  administered 
by  Dr.  Coke  and  Mr.  Whatcoat.  It  was  on  this  occa¬ 
sion  also  that  he  was  induced  to  enter  the  itinerancy. 
Asbury,  discerning,  no  doubt,  elements  of  success  in  the 
young  man,  persuaded  him  to  go  forth  as  a  laborer  into 
the  field  which  was  ripe  for  the  harvest.  Some  of  the 
other  preachers  seconded  his  advice,  and  though  he  had 
never  publicly  preached  a  sermon,  nor  made  application 
to  travel,  nor  even  contemplated  it,  he  consented  to  enter 
the  work.  Of  this  important  event  of  his  life,  he  says, 
“  It  was  unsought,  and  when  I  went  to  that  meeting, 
perfectly  unexpected.  With  much  diffidence,  and  great 
reluctance,  I  yielded  to  go ;  though  pressed  to  it  by  my 
greatly  beloved  and  much  esteemed  brother  Asbury, 
and  encouraged  and  urged  to  it  by  some  of  the  other 
preachers.  Old  brother  W.  Thomas  held  up  both  his 
hands  toward  me,  and  in  a  loving  and  alarming  manner, 
addressed  me,  £  I  warn  you,  in  the  name  of  God,  not  to 
refuse  !  I  do  not  know  but  your  salvation  depends  upon 
it !  God  has  a  work  for  you  to  do,  and  he  has  called 


376  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

you  to  it ;  and  wo  be  unto  you  if  you  preach  not  the 
gospel !’  That  address  thrilled  through  me  like  thunder ; 
my  heart  filled,  I  could  say  no  more.  They  had  some 
knowledge  of  my  deep  exercises  about  preaching,  and 
they  believed  that  I  was  ‘verily  called  to  the  work.’ 
They  having  heard  me  in  conversation,  and  in  the  close 
of  meetings,  a  few  times,  exhort  and  pray,  they  supposed 
I  had  ‘  a  talent  to  be  improved.’  ” 

Cooper  was  admitted  on  trial  in  1785,  and  appointed 
to  Long  Island.  In  1786  he  traveled  East  Jersey  circuit. 
In  1787  he  rode  Trenton  circuit,  N.  J.  In  1788  he  was 
sent  to  Baltimore.  In  1789-90  he  was  stationed  at  An¬ 
napolis,  Md.  He  continued  to  fill  important  positions 
in  the  Church  for  a  series  of  years,  when  he  located,  in 
which  position  he  continued  eight  years,  when  he  re¬ 
entered  the  itinerant  ranks,  but  was  soon  after  placed  on 
the  supernumerary  list  in  the  Philadelphia  Conference. 

He  was  one  of  the  most  powerful  logicians  in  the 
Church  in  his  day,  and  his  logic  was  impassioned.  It 
was  not  that  sort  of  cold  dry  reasoning  which  wearied 
without  profiting  the  hearer,  but  while  it  enlightened  the 
understanding  it  also  stirred  the  emotions.  One  of  the 
fruits  of  his  ministry  in  New  Mills,  New  Jersey,  more 
than  seventy  years  ago,  is  still  living  at  Camden,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  ninety  years.  After  he  became  super¬ 
annuated  he  labored  extensively,  preaching  with  zeal  and 


PROSPECTS,  RESULTS,  AND  LABORERS.  377 

power  at  Camp  meetings,  Quarterly  meetings,  &c.  His 
last  sickness  was  brief  and  marked  by  the  serenity  of 
Christian  peace.  He  also,  at  times,  greatly  triumphed 
in  Christ.  On  one  occasion,  having  been  engaged  in 
prayer,  he  broke  forth  into  praise,  and  shouted  aloud 
about  a  dozen  times,  “  Hallelujah  !  Hallelujah  !” 

On  Sunday  the  21st  of  February,  1847,  he  peacefully 
terminated  his  pilgrimage,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
four  years  and  in  the  sixty-second  of  his  ministry.  At 
the  time  of  his  death  he  was  the  oldest  member  of  any 
Methodist  Conference  in  America. 

The  following  brief  portraiture  of  Mr.  Cooper  is  from 
the  pen  of  Rev.  Dr.  A.  Stevens : 

“  Mr.  Cooper’s  personal  appearance  embodied  the 
finest  idea  of  age,  intelligence,  and  piety  combined. 
His  frame  was  tall  and  slight,  his  locks  white  with  years, 
his  forehead  high  and  prominent,  and  his  features  ex¬ 
pressive  at  once  of  benignity,  subtlety,  and  serenity. 
A  wen  had  been  enlarging  on  his  neck  from  his  child¬ 
hood,  but  without  detracting  from  the  peculiarly  elevated 
and  characteristic  expression  of  his  face.  He  was  con¬ 
sidered  by  his  ministerial  associates,  a  1  living  Encyclo¬ 
pedia,’  in  respect  not  only  to  theology,  but  most  other 
departments  of  knowledge,  and  his  large  and  accurate 
information  was  only  surpassed  by  the  range  and  sound¬ 
ness  of  his  judgment.  He  sustained  a  prominent  posi- 


378  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


tion  in  the  annals  of  the  Church,  during  both  its  ad¬ 
versity  and  its  prosperity ;  the  delineation  of  his  re¬ 
markable  character  should  devolve  upon  an  able  hand, 
and  will  form  an  important  feature  in  the  history  of  our 


cause. 


LABORS  AND  LABORERS — 1787. 


879 


C  II  APTE  R  XIX. 

LABORS  AND  LABORERS — 1787. 

In  1787  New  Jersey  comprised  one  district,  including 
New  York  city,  New  Rochelle,  and  Long  Island,  of 
wdiich  Thomas  Foster  was  elder.  The  other  preachers 
that  were  appointed  to  labor  in  New  Jersey  were  sta¬ 
tioned  as  follows :  Elizabethtown,  Robert  Cloud,  Thomas 
Morrell.  West  Jersey,  Robert  Cann,  John  M’Claskey, 
John  Milburn.  Trenton,  Ezekiel  Cooper,  Nathaniel  B. 
Mills.  East  Jersey,  Simon  Pyle,  Cornelius  Cook. 

Bishop  Asbury  made  a  brief  incursion  into  New  Jer¬ 
sey  very  soon  after  the  Conference.  It  adjourned  at 
Baltimore  on  the  sixth  of  May,  and  before  the  middle 

ft 

of  the  same  month  he  was  at  Trenton,  but  found  the 
people  there  very  lifeless.  Methodism  seems  to  have 
prospered  most  during  this  early  period  in  New  Jersey 
in  the  less  densely  populated  communities.  In  the  larger 
towns  its  progress  was  slow,  and  in  several  of  them,  as 
New  Brunswick  and  Newark,  for  example,  it  did  not  be- 


380  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

come  established  until  after  the  period  embraced  in  the 
present  work.  Being  itinerant  in  its  spirit,  and  aiming 
to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  poor,  the  early  Methodism 
of  New  Jersey  went  into  the  highways  and  hedges,  and 
sought  to  bring  the  maimed,  the  blind,  and  the  outcast 
to  the  banquet  table  of  heavenly  mercy. 

We  have  seen  that,  when  Methodism  was  introduced 
into  Elizabethtown,  the  Episcopal  clergyman  there  wel¬ 
comed  it,  and  co-operated  with  it,  and  we  find  this  year 
another  evidence  of  the  cordial  feeling  with  which  the 
movement  was  regarded  by  that  Church.  Dr.  Coke  and 
Bishop  Asbury  visiting  the  town  this  year,  the  doctor 
preached  a  lively  sermon  in  the  Episcopal  Church,  “and 
we  had,”  says  Asbury,  “  a  good  time.” 

He  made  an  excursion  in  July  through  the  northern 
end  of  the  State.  The  people  there  appear  to  have  been 
awake  to  the  subject  of  Methodism.  At  Warwick,  he 
says,  “  I  suppose  not  less  than  a  thousand  people  were 
collected.  I  was  very  low,  both  in  body  and  spirit,  but 
felt  stirred  up  at  the  sight  of  such  a  congregation,  and 
was  moved  and  quickened  while  I  enlarged  on  Gal.  i.  4. 
I  baptized  some,  and  administered  the  sacrament  to  many 
communicants.” 

At  B - ’s  a  multitude  attended  in  a  barn.  This 

was  probably  Banghart’s — the  father  of  Rev.  G.  Bang- 
hart  of  the  Newark  Conference.  Mr.  B.’s  was  one  of 


LABORS  AND  LABORERS — 1787. 


381 


the  earliest  preaching  places  in  Warren  county.  The 
work  of  religion  had  already  been  going  on  among  the 
people  there,  for  Asbury  says,  “  Here  God  hath  wrought 
a  great  work  for  a  poor,  blind,  ignorant  people.  He 
was  also  at  Sweezy’s,  where  they  were  blest  with  a  good 
time,  and  where  there  appears  to  have  been  a  society,  or, 
at  least,  Methodists,  as  he  administered  the  sacrament. 
On  Sunday  he  preached  to  a  multitude  in  the  woods. 
There  were  nearly  a  thousand  people  to  listen  to  the 
word.  He  felt  rather  depressed,  both  mentally  and 
physically,  but  “had  some  gracious  feelings  in  the  sacra¬ 
ment.  Others  also  felt  the  quickening  power  of  God.” 
He  baptized  a  number  of  adults  and  infants,  both  by 
sprinkling  and  immersion. 

Thomas  Foster,  the  elder  in  New  Jersey  this  year, 
entered  the  itinerant  connection  in  1780.  His  labors 
were  confined  chiefly  to  Virginia  and  Maryland  until 
1792,  when  his  name  disappears  from  the  minutes.  He 
was  esteemed  a  man  of  genuine  piety  and  sound  talent. 
He  was,  it  is  said,  a  fair  example  of  the  first  race  of 
Methodist  preachers. 

Thomas  Morrell  is  a  distinguished  name  in  Ameri¬ 
can  Methodist  history.  He  was  born  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  November  22nd,  1747.  His  mother  was  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  first  class  formed  by  Philip  Embury  in  the 

year  1766.  The  family  removed  to  Elizabethtown,  N.  J. 

24 


382  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

in  1772,  and  there  being  no  Methodists  there  the  parents 
united  with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Soon  after  the 
first  struggle  of  the  Revolutionary  conflict  at  Lexington, 
a  company  of  volunteers  was  raised  chiefly  by  a  patriotic 
address  which  he  delivered  to  a  body  of  Jersey  militia, 
and  he  marched  at  their  head  to  New  York  to  join  Gen. 
Washington’s  army.  He  was  dangerously  wounded  in 
the  battle  on  Long  Island,  and  performed  valiant  service 
for  his  country  as  a  military  officer  in  the  war  of  Inde¬ 
pendence.  Under  the  first  sermon  of  Rev.  John  Hag- 
erty,  as  we  have  seen,  in  Elizabethtown,  he  was  awak¬ 
ened,  and  early  in  the  year  1785  was  converted.  He 
soon  after  abandoned  a  lucrative  business  and  entered 
the  itinerancy.  His  first  field  of  labor  was  Staten 
Island,  in  which  he  was  continued  in  1787,  it  forming  a 
part  of  Elizabethtown  circuit.  This  year  he  was  ad¬ 
mitted  on  trial.  In  1788  he  was  ordained  a  deacon  and 
traveled  Trenton  circuit.  In  1789  he  was  stationed  in 
New  York  where  he  was  continued  five  years.  In  1791, 
at  Bishop  Asbury’s  request,  he  left  New  York  and  ac¬ 
companied  him  to  Charleston,  S.  C.,  where  he  labored  a 
few  months,  it  being  a  time  of  secession  from  the  Church 
in  that  city.  In  1794-5  he  was  stationed  in  Philadel¬ 
phia.  Here  he  was  taken  sick  and  did  not  fully  recover 
until  1799.  He  was  then  stationed  two  years  in  Baltimore, 
and  in  1802-3  he  was  stationed  again  in  New  York  two 


LABORS  AND  LABORERS — 1787. 


383 


years.  This  was  his  last  appointment  out  of  Elizabeth¬ 
town,  as  failing  health  compelled  him  to  retire,  but  he 
continued  for  sixteen  years  to  preach  as  often  as  when 
he  traveled  more  extensively ;  and,  until  a  few  years  be¬ 
fore  his  death  he  preached  once  each  Sabbath  in  Eliza¬ 
bethtown. 

Mr.  Morrell  lived  to  the  very  advanced  age  of  ninety. 
He  closed  his  eventful  and  useful  life  on  the  morning  of 
the  9th  of  August,  1838.  The  following  brief  portrait¬ 
ure  was  written  at  the  request  of  the  writer,  by  Rev. 
John  Lee,  who  knew  him  well  and  enjoyed  his  confidence 
and  friendship : 

“  In  person,  Thomas  Morrell  was  below  the  medium 
height,  with  a  square  built,  well  knit  frame,  indicative 
of  great  muscular  strength  and  capability  of  endurance; 
qualities  almost  essential  in  a  pioneer  of  Methodism. 
He  had  a  noble  physiognomy,  a  dark  piercing  eye — the 
index  of  an  intelligent  mind;  and  a  countenance  on 
which  the  most  casual  observer  might  read  decision  and 
firmness,  in  combination  with  great  kindness  of  heart, 
giving  him  a  beautifully  symmetrical,  intellectual,  and 
moral  character,  which,  in  connection  with  a  strong  clear 
voice  of  which  he  had  complete  control,  admirably  fitted 
him  to  become  a  useful  and  influential  man,  and  under 
the  teachings  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  an  acceptable  and  sue- 


384  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

cessful  preacher  of  the  word  of  God — eminently  a  pol¬ 
ished  shaft  in  the  quiver  of  the  Almighty. 

“  The  air  of  authority,  promptness  of  decision,  and 
firmness  in  adhering  to  his  purpose  when  deliberately 
formed,  might  sometimes  appear  to  a  stranger  like  stern¬ 
ness  and  dogmatism ;  but  to  those  intimately  acquainted 
with  him  this  was  well  understood,  and  attributed,  doubt¬ 
less,  to  its  proper  cause — the  habit  of  command — ac¬ 
quired  while  a  field  officer  (major)  in  the  army  of  the 
Revolution,  and  not  likely  to  be  diminished  by  the 
highly  responsible  positions  he  was  called  to  occupy 
during  his  early  ministerial  career,  and  which  adhered 
to  him,  in  some  degree,  during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

“  As  a  preacher,  Thomas  Morrell  must  unquestionably 
take  rank  with  the  first  class  of  Methodist  ministers  in 
his  day.  His  appearance  and  manner  in  the  pulpit  was 
grave  and  dignified,  befitting  the  ambassador  of  God. 
His  sermons  were  characterized  by  strong  sense  and 
sound  theology  ;  his  deductions  were  logical,  his  analysis 
clear,  and  his  application  forcible,  discriminating,  and 
faithful ;  and  not  unfrequently  his  preaching  was  attend¬ 
ed  with  an  unction  that  affected  his  own  heart,  causing 
the  tears,  unbidden,  to  trickle  down  his  cheeks,  and 
being  communicated  to  his  hearers,  a  large  part  of  his 
audience  would  be  melted  down  in  humility,  reverence, 
and  love.” 


LABORS  AND  LABORERS — 1787. 


385 


His  son,  Rev.  Francis  A.  Morrell,  speaks  of  him,  and 
his  last  moments  as  follows : 

“  In  his  life  he  was  the  friend  of  the  indigent — his 
house  the  home  of  the  way-worn  itinerant,  and  his  at¬ 
tachment  to  the  Church  of  his  choice  strengthened  as 
years  multiplied  upon  him ;  as  a  husband  and  father  he 
was  affectionate  and  kind. 

“  In  his  last  illness,  which  was  protracted,  he  suffered 
much  from  soreness  of  the  throat,  accompanied  with  an 
asthmatic  affection,  yet  he  uttered  no  complaint — not  a 
murmur  was  heard ;  and,  though  he  desired  the  hour  of 
deliverance  to  arrive,  yet  was  perfectly  resigned  to  the 
will  of  God.  On  Monday  morning  previous  to  his  death 
he  repeated  audibly  three  times,  ‘  Though  I  walk  through 
the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death  I  will  fear  no  evil,  for 
the  Lord  is  with  me.’  To  our  deeply  afflicted  mother  he 
said,  ‘  Why  do  you  weep  ?  I  am  going  to  glory.’  On 
the  8th  inst.,  at  his  request,  the  23d  psalm  was  read  and 
the  4  Christian’s  home’  was  sung,  in  which  he  made  an 
effort  to  join,  and  said,  ‘  I  shall  soon  he  there.’  Being 
asked  if  death  was  a  terror  to  him,  he  replied  in  the 
negative,  and  said,  i  I  have  gotten  the  victory.’  He 
retained  his  consciousness  to  the  last,  and  faintly  ut¬ 
tered,  a  few  minutes  before  his  death,  ‘All  is  well.’  ” 

Of  John  Milburn  we  are  able  to  obtain  no  informa¬ 
tion  other  than  that  he  joined  the  traveling  connection 


386  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

in  178T,  and  was  appointed  respectively  to  West  Jersey, 
Chester,  Pa.,  Talbot,  Somerset,  Caroline,  Northampton, 
in  Md.,  Dover,  Del.,  Prince  George’s,  Somerset,  and 
Dorchester,  Md.  In  1798  his  name  does  not  stand  con¬ 
nected  with  any  appointment  on  the  minutes.  In  1799 
he  located. 

Nathaniel  B.  Mills  was  born  in  New  Castle,  Del., 
the  23d  of  February,  1766.  Until  the  fifteenth  year 
of  his  age  he  indulged  in  the  usual  follies  and  vices  of 
youth,  though  not  without  frequent  reproaches  of  con¬ 
science.  At  this  early  age  he  was  led,  chiefly  through 
the  instrumentality  of  Methodism,  to  a. discovery  of  his 
perilous  condition  as  a  sinner,  and  his  need  of  a  saving 
interest  in  the  atonement  of  Christ.  Under  the  influ¬ 
ence  of  these  convictions  he  “  became  an  habitually  se¬ 
rious  seeker  of  salvation.”  It  was  two  years,  however, 
before  he  became  consciously  reconciled  to  God.  Not 
long  after  he  was  convinced  of  his  need  of  a  deeper  work 
of  grace,  and  he  began  to  seek  the  entire  sanctification 
of  his  nature,  “which,”  he  says,  “I  trust,  I  found  in 
some  degree,  at  least,  about  the  twentieth  year  of  my 
age.”  Soon  after  his  conversion,  he  felt  desires  to  warn 
his  fellow  men  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come,  and  he 
began  to  exhort  them  accordingly,  first  in  his  own  neigh¬ 
borhood,  and  then  at  a  distance  as  Providence  opened 
the  way.  After  much  deliberation  and  prayer,  that  he 


LABORS  AND  LABORERS — 1787. 


387 


might  not  be  deceived  in  a  matter  of  so  great  importance 
to  himself  and  others,  he  offered  himself  to  the  Baltimore 
Conference  in  May,  1787,  and  was  received  and  appointed 
to  Trenton,  N.  J.  The  following  year  he  was  on  Salem 
circuit,  and  in  1789  he  was  appointed  to  Newburg,  N.  Y. 
The  next  year  he  appears  as  one  of  the  coadjutors  of 
Lee  in  the  land  of  the  Puritans,  and  was  appointed  to 
Hartford,  Conn.,  and  in  1791  to  Fairfield,  Conn.  The 
following  year  he  was  appointed  to  Dorchester,  Md. ; 
in  1793  he  was  sent  to  Bristol,  Pa.  ;  1794,  Caroline, 
Md. ;  1795,  Lancaster,  Pa.;  1796,  Federal,  Md.  “In 
1797-8  we  find  his  appointment  bearing  the  significant 
designation,  ‘  Ohio ;’  it,  doubtless,  verged  on,  if  it  did 
not  penetrate,  the  wilderness  which  since,  under  the  same 
name,  has  become  the  noblest  State  of  the  West.”  In 
1799  he  was  in  Maryland,  on  Prince  George’s  circuit; 
“in  1800  he  vTas  colleague  of  the  veteran  James  Quinn, 
at  Pittsburg,  under  the  Presiding  Eldership  of  Daniel 
Hitt,  an  illustrious  companionship.  During  twenty- 
four  years  we  find  him  pursuing  his  ministerial  career  in 
the  Baltimore  Conference,  moving  to  and  fro,  from  its 
eastern  circuits  to  Ohio,  and  from  the  interior  of  Penn¬ 
sylvania  to  that  of  Virginia,  until  1824,  when  he  ap¬ 
pears  in  the  list  of  the  ‘  superannuated  and  worn  out 
preachers’  of  that  Conference,  in  company  with  Nelson 
Reed,  Joshua  Wells,  and  other  distinguished  veterans. 


388  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

But  it  is  hard  for  a  hero  to  retire  from  the  field  while 
the  clarion  is  still  sounding,  or  the  shout  of  battle  is  on 
the  air  ;  and  even  the  old  war  horse  1  saith  among  the 
trumpets,  Aha  !  aha  !  and  smells  the  battle  afar  off-,  the 
thunder  of  the  captains  and  the  shouting.’  Though  he 
had  passed  nearly  forty  years  in  the  ministry,  wre  find 
the  hoary  headed  Mills,  at  the  next  Conference,  leaving 
the  ranks  of  the  superannuated,  and  entering  again  the 
effective  lists,  where  he  continued  till  1829,  when,  after 
a  laborious  ministry  of  forty-two  years,  he  took  his  place 
among  the  supernumeraries  of  the  Conference.  He  con¬ 
tinued,  however,  to  preach  regularly,  being  appointed 
that  year  to  Rockingham;  in  1830,  to  Great  Falls; 
1831,  Loudon  and  Fairfax;  1832,  Baltimore  circuit; 
1833,  Liberty;  and  in  1834,  Frederick.  In  1835  he 
wras  compelled  to  retire  again  to  the  ranks  of  the  super¬ 
annuated,  where  he  continued  till  his  death.  The  min¬ 
istry  of  the  wrnrd  was,  how'ever,  ‘a  ruling  passion’  with 
him,  and  it  was  strong  even  till  death.  He  continued 
to  labor  with  untiring  constancy,  as  he  had  strength  and 
opportunity ;  and  the  last  public  act  of  his  protracted 
ministry  was  performed  on  the  last  Sabbath  of  his  life. 
On  the  morning  of  that  day  he  preached  his  last  sermon. 
The  selection  of  his  final  text  was  characteristic  of  the 
veteran  soldier  of  Christ,  it  was  from  Judges  v.  31 :  ‘  So 
let  all  thine  enemies  be  scattered,  0  Lord ;  but  let  them 


LABORS  AND  LABORERS — 1787.  389 

that  love  him  he  as  the  sun  "when  he  goeth  forth  in  his 
might.’  ”* 

On  the  Thursday  morning  following,  the  day  on  which 
he  died,  he  led  the  devotions  of  the  family.  “  He  was,” 
say  his  brethren,  “  a  holy  man  of  God,  and  though  we 
are  not  permitted  to  claim  for  him  entire  exemption  from 
the  ordinary  infirmities  and  weaknesses  inseparable  from 
humanity,  we  are,  at  least,  warranted  in  saying  that 
these  infirmities  are  seldom  found  associated  with  greater 
purity  of  purpose  and  innocency  of  life.  He  was  also 
a  sound,  good,  and  practical  preacher,  of  the  primitive 
school  of  Methodist  ministers.  He  was,  indeed,  one  of 
the  last  of  that  highly  interesting  class  of  men,  to  whom, 
under  God,  the  Church  and  the  world  are  so  deeply  in¬ 
debted.  His  death  may,  to  some  extent,  be  regarded  as 
the  severance  of  the  last  link — so  far,  at  least,  as  the 
ministry  of  this  Conference  is  concerned — by  which  the 
past  and  the  present  have  heretofore  been  united. 
1  Mark  the  perfect  man,  and  behold  the  upright ;  for  the 
end  of  that  man  is  peace.’  ” 

Simon  Pyle  was  born  in  or  near  Westchester,  Chester 
county,  Pa.,  in  the  year  1759.  He  was  received  on  trial 
in  1784,  and  appointed  to  Juniata,  Pa.  In  1785  he  was 
sent  to  Fairfax,  Ya. ;  1786,  Sussex,  Va.  The  remain¬ 
ing  years  of  his  itinerancy  were  spent  in  New  Jersey, 


*  Stevens’s  Memorials. 


390  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

on  the  following  circuits  respectively:  East  Jersey, 
1787;  Elizabethtown,  1788;  Salem,  1789;  Trenton, 
1790;  Burlington,  1791.  This  is  the  last  year  his 
name  appears  on  the  minutes.  He  married  in  1792  and 
retired  from  the  itinerant  ranks,  and  settled  upon  a  farm 
in  Monmouth  county,  New  Jersey,  about  three  miles  east 
of  Freehold.  His  wife  was  a  Miss  Leonard,  who,  al¬ 
though  her  parents  were  Episcopalians  at  Shrewsbury, 
Monmouth  county,  had  embraced  religion  and  joined 
the  M.  E.  Church.  In  1812  she  and  his  eldest  daughter 
died,  and  in  1817  he  married  the  widow  of  Benjamin 
Tharp,  whose  maiden  name  was  Abigal  Lippencott. 
She  still  survives  him  in  the  78th  year  of  her  age,  and 
the  63d  or  64th  of  her  membership  in  the  Church.  For 
sixty  years  she  maintained  a  remarkably  punctual  at¬ 
tendance  upon  the  ordinances  of  the  Church. 

Mr.  Pyle  died  in  1822,  and  very  little  information  can 
now  be  gathered  concerning  his  ministerial  character 
and  labors.  We  are  indebted  for  the  following  brief 
sketch  to  Bev.  Garner  It.  Snyder,  of  the  New  Jersey 
Conference,  the  present  pastor  of  the  M.  E.  Church  at 
Freehold,  N.  J. : 

“  Simon  Pyle  lived  in  this  community  for  thirty  years, 
but  was  known  rather  as  a  farmer  and  local  preacher 
than  as  a  regular  minister ;  and  having  been  dead  nearly 
38  years  it  is  not  strange  that  he  is  nearly  forgotten. 


LABORS  AND  LABORERS — 1787. 


391 


But  to  the  extent  he  is  remembered  his  memory  is  respected. 
He  seems  to  have  borne  an  unblemished  Christian  char¬ 
acter,  and  for  many  years  to  have  swayed  a  wide  and 
wholesome  influence  as  a  Christian  and  local  preacher. 
He  solemnized  many  marriages,  went  far  and  near  to 
visit  the  sick  and  bury  the  dead,  and  generally  preached 
once  or  more  on  the  Sabbath.  I  gather  that  he  was  a 
clear,  sound,  instructive  preacher,  but  comparatively  un¬ 
impassioned,  and  hence  of  limited  popularity;  and  be¬ 
ing  chiefly  occupied  in  other  pursuits,  as  a  matter  of 
course  he  became  less  and  less  attractive  as  years  and 
infirmities  increased.  He  was  not  a  sensation  preacher, 
and,  indeed,  labored  under  the  disadvantage  of  a  poor 
delivery,  and  so  never  drew  crowds  to  hear  him,  and 
never  occasioned  any  special  excitement.  But  his  con¬ 
sistent  piety,  his  uniform  course,  his  marked  punctuality, 
his  strong  sense  and  clear  insight  into  the  plan  of  salva¬ 
tion,  together  with  his  self-sacrificing  responses  to  calls 
on  behalf  of  the  sick  and  dead,  and  to  supply  the  lack 
of  ministerial  service  in  those  destitute  times,  rendered 
him  a  usefully  influential  man.” 

Curnelius  Cook  was  a  native  of  Great  Britain,  but 
was  converted  and  called  to  preach  in  this  country.  He 
entered  the  itinerancy  in  1787,  and  was  appointed  to 
East  Jersey.  In  1788  he  was  appointed  to  Dutchess, 
N.  Y.,  and  in  1789  to  Schenectady,  N.  Y.  He  was  a 


392  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

very  feeble  man  physically,  and  bis  career  was  brief  but 
useful.  During  bis  last  illness  be  was  visited  by  Asbury 
and  Garrettson,  both  of  whom  found  him  happy  in  the 
faith  and  hope  of  the  gospel  he  had  preached.  “  He 
was  a  faithful  laborer  and  patient  sufferer,”  says  the 
brief  obituary  notice  in  the  minutes,  “  while  he  was  em¬ 
ployed  in  the  Church  for  three  years ;  and  departed  in 
peace  and  confidence,  in  the  month  of  August,  1789.” 


THE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1788. 


393 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1788. 

The  labors  of  the  past  year  resulted  in  an  increase 
of  nearly  four  hundred  members  in  New  Jersey,  making 
at  the  beginning  of  the  ecclesiastical  year,  1788,  a  mem¬ 
bership  of  2046,  white  and  colored.  Twelve  preachers 
were  appointed  to  labor  in  the  State  this  year,  as  fol¬ 
lows: — James  0.  Cromwell,  elder. 

Salem,  Joseph  Cromwell,  Nathaniel  B.  Mills,  John 
Cooper. 

Trenton,  John  Merrick,  Thomas  Morrell,  Jethro 
Johnson. 

Elizabethtown,  John  M’Claskey,  Simon  Pile. 

Flanders,  Jesse  Lee,  Aaron  Hutchinson,  John  Lee. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  West  Jersey  circuit  ap¬ 
pears,  for  the  first  time  this  year,  under  the  new  name  of 
Salem.  There  was  a  small  decrease  in  the  membership 
of  this  circuit  the  present  year. 

It  was  about  this  year  that  the  first  Methodist  house 
of  worship  was  erected  in  Burlington. 


394  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

Burlington  enjoys  the  signal  honor  of  being  the  first 
place  in  New  Jersey  in  which  Methodism  was  established. 
The  progress  of  the  cause  was  slow  during  the  first  years 
of  its  history  there,  yet  it  has  always  been  a  prominent 
society,  and  was  from  the  beginning  favored  with  the 
presence  and  labors  of  such  men  as  Capt.  Webb,  its 
founder,  Francis  Asbury,  Bichard  Boardman,  and  John 
King.  Indeed,  Asbury  acted  the  part  of  a  pastor  over 
the  Burlington  and  Trenton  societies  in  the  time  of  their 
early  infancy.  In  his  Journal,  May  22,  1791,  he  says: 
“  Eighteen  years  ago  I  often  slipped  away  from  Phila¬ 
delphia  to  Burlington  one  week,  and  to  Trenton  another, 
to  keep  a  few  souls  alive :  1  had  then  no  Conferences  to 
take  up  my  time  and  occupy  my  thoughts ;  and  now — 
what  hath  God  wrought!” 

During  the  Bevolutionary  struggle,  like  most  of  the 
societies  in  New  Jersey,  it  suffered  reverses.  The 
preaching  wTas  held,  during  the  first  years  of  its  history, 
in  the  Court  house ;  the  courts  being  then  held  in  Bur¬ 
lington,  but  since  removed  to  Mount  Holly,  about  six 
miles  distant.  The  following  account  of  the  building  of 
the  first  Church  in  Burlington  is  from  the  pen  of  Bev. 
Dr.  Porter  of  the  Newark  Conference,  and  was  pub¬ 
lished  in  the  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal  in  the 
year  1840 : 

“  Soon  after  the  war  of  the  Devolution  the  Court 


THE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1788. 


395 


house  was  taken  down,  and  the  Methodists  were  com¬ 
pelled,  from  the  necessity  of  the  case,  to  meet  in  a  small 
private  house,  occupied  by  Mr.  George  Smith,  who  was 
himself  a  Methodist.  While  things  were  thus,  it  was 
sometime  about  the  year  1787  or  1788,  that  General 
Joseph  Bloomfield  (who  was  for  some  time  governor  of 
this  State)  asked  Mr.  James  Sterling,  who  was  then  a 
member  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  why  they  did  not  have  a 
house  of  prayer  4  where  they  might  meet  for  public  wor¬ 
ship  and  the  preaching  of  the  wrord.’  The  answer  of 
Mr.  Sterling  was,  ‘We  are  too  poor;  we  have  no  ground 
to  build  it  on,  and  nothing  to  build  it  with.’  The  gen¬ 
eral  generously  replied,  ‘  I  will  give  a  lot  of  ground  if 
you  will  put  up  the  house.’  Mr.  Sterling  at  once  re¬ 
solved  to  make  an  effort,  and  said  to  Mr.  Smith,  at  whose 
house  the  meetings  were  held,  4  If  you  will  beg  the 
money  to  pay  the  workmen,  I  will  find  all  the  materials.’ 
This  Mr.  Smith  did,  and  thus  they  obtained  their  first 
house  of  prayer,  which,  for  the  time,  wras  considered 
quite  respectable.  In  the  month  of  September,  1790, 
there  was  a  Conference  held  here.  Bishop  Asbury  re¬ 
marks  in  his  Journal:  ‘On  Tuesday  night  we  had  a 
shout ;  then  came  the  bulls  of  Bashan  and  broke  our 
windows.  It  was  well  my  head  escaped  the  violence  of 
these  wicked  sinners.’  ” 

Methodism  has  ever  demonstrated  its  power  as  a  puri- 


396  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

fying  and  elevating  agency  in  society,  by  its  beneficent 
effects  upon  the  masses.  For  that  reason  it  has  always 
commended  itself  to  the  good  sense  and  hearty  sympa¬ 
thy  of  many  persons  of  intelligence  and  influence  out¬ 
side  of  its  ecclesiastical  enclosure,  who  have  evinced 
their  appreciation  of  it  by  generous  efforts  to  promote 
its  influence.  Gen.  Bloomfield  believed,  no  doubt,  that 
a  Methodist  Church  in  Burlington  would  be  a  blessing 
to  the  inhabitants,  and,  accordingly,  he  presented  to  the 
society  the  ground  on  which  they  might  rear  their  temple 
of  worship.  This  noble  expression  of  sympathy  and 
good  will  should  ever  be  held  in  grateful  remembrance 
by  Burlington  Methodists. 

Soon  after  this  church  was  erected,  Bishop  Asbury 
visited  Burlington,  and  October  6,  1789,  he  writes  in 
his  Journal,  “  After  twenty  years  preaching  they  have 
built  a  very  beautiful  meeting-house  at  Burlington,  but 
it  is  low  times  there  in  religion.” 

Methodism  has  since  been  steadily  advancing  in  Bur¬ 
lington.  In  1821  larger  church  accommodations  were 
found  to  be  necessary,  and  accordingly  the  present 
Broad  Street  Church  was  erected.  It  stands  upon  the 
ground  which  was  occupied  by  the  old  Court  house, 
which,  in  connection  with  the  Market  house,  was  the 
scene  of  the  first  labors  and  triumphs  of  the  cause  in  the 
city.  During  the  two  years  in  which  Dr.  Porter  was 


THE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1788. 


897 


pastor  of  the  Church,  (1838-89,)  the  membership  was 
almost  doubled,  and  for  several  years  there  have  been 
two  Methodist  Churches  in  the  city,  each  supporting  its 
own  pastor.  For  an  account  of  the  introduction  of 
Methodism  into  Burlington,  and  also  into  Trenton,  and 
of  its  first  struggles  in  those  cities,  the  reader  is  referred 
to  the  first  chapters  of  this  work. 

When  Jesse  Lee  entered  upon  his  work  in  the  Flan¬ 
ders  circuit,  which  lay  partly  in  New  Jersey  and  partly 
in  New  York,  he  found  there  were  formidable  difficulties 
to  contend  with  in  the  prosecution  of  his  labors.  The 
population  was  very  heterogeneous,  being  composed  of 
people  of  various  nations,  and  their  religious  creeds 
were  as  different  as  the  places  of  their  nativity.  But 
the  predominant  creed  was  that  of  Calvin.  It  was  main¬ 
tained  in  all  its  rigor.  There  was  no  softening  down  of 
its  distinctive  features  of  unconditional  election  and 
reprobation  in  its  presentation  from  the  pulpit,  the 
Churches  generally  were  in  a  lukewarm  state,  and  what 
zeal  they  did  manifest  was  more  for  doctrines  than  for 
graces.  Mr.  Lee  could  not  be  satisfied  without  attempt¬ 
ing  to  counteract  this  state  of  things.  He  was  the  her¬ 
ald  of  what  he  regarded  as  a  purer  faith,  and  he  exhib¬ 
ited  it  clearly  and  boldly.  Sometimes,  too,  he  publicly 
attacked  Calvinism,  “  and  opposed  it  with  all  the  energy 

and  skill  he  could  command.  On  one  occasion  he  spoke 
25 


398  MEMORIALS  OE  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

‘  freely  and  fully  against  unconditional  election  and 
reprobation;’  and  he  ‘found  great  liberty  in  speaking, 
and  the  power  of  God  attended  the  word.  Many  of  the 
people  wept,  and  some  cried  aloud.’  ”  He  became  so 
bold  in  his  utterances  that  at  length  he  asserted  “  that 
God  had  taken  his  oath  against  Calvinism,  because  he 
had  declared,  by  the  mouth  of  the  prophet :  ‘  As  I  live, 
saith  the  Lord  God,  I  have  no  pleasure  in  the  death  of 
the  wicked,  but  that  the  wicked  turn  from  his  wTay  and 
live.’  On  uttering  these  words,”  he  says,  “I  felt -so 
much  of  the  power  of  God,  that  it  appeared  to  me  as  if 
the  truth  of  the  doctrine  was  sealed  to  the  hearts  of  the 
hearers.” 

The  following  incident  which,  it  is  said,  probably  oc¬ 
curred  on  this  circuit,  affords  a  good  illustration  of  the 
spirit  and  manner  of  Mr.  Lee  in  combating  Calvinism. 
He  went  to  hear  a  Calvinistic  minister  preach,  and  seated 
himself  in  the  congregation,  in  front  of  the  pulpit.  The 
minister  announced  his  text,  Psa.  cx.  3.  “  Thy  people 

shall  be  made  willing  in  the  day  of  thy  power.”  Mr. 
Lee  did  not  feel  quite  comfortable.  The  minister  slowly 
and  solemnly  repeated  it.  Lee  rose  upon  his  feet,  and 
respectfully  addressing  the  minister,  said : 

“My  dear  sir,  have  you  not  mistaken  the  text?” 

The  minister,  somewhat  astonished,  replied,  he  had 
not. 


TIIE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1788. 


399 


“  Will  you  please  read  it  again  ?”  said  Mr.  Lee. 

He  read  it  again,  but  in  the  same  way. 

u  Are  you  quite  sure  you  read  it  right  ?”  asked  Lee. 

“  Quite  certain  of  it,”  replied  the  minister. 

“  Well,  that’s  very  singular ;  it  don’t  read  so  in  my 
Bible,”  said  the  earnest  advocate  of  free  will,  at  the 
same  time  holding  up  a  small  pocket  Bible  towards  the 
pulpit,  with  the  request,  “  Will  you  be  good  enough  to 
read  once  more,  and  see  if  the  word  made  is  in  the 
text  ?” 

The  minister  commenced  reading,  slowly,  “  Thy — peo¬ 
ple — shall — he — ”  he  paused,  gazed  earnestly  at  the 
words,  and  again  read, — “  Thy  people  shall  he  willing 
in  the  day  of  thy  power.”  “  True  enough,  there’s  no  such 
word  in  the  text.”  Lee  resumed  his  seat.  Notwith¬ 
standing,  the  minister  did  not  see  how  the  people  could 
he  willing  unless  they  were  made  so,  and  he  preached 
the  doctrine,  though  the  congregation.perceived  the  force 
of  Lee’s  commentary. 

“  The  obstacles  this  forcing  theory  of  Christianity 
was  constantly  opposing  to  the  success  of  Mr.  Lee,”  re¬ 
marks  his  biographer,  “  had  no  inconsiderable  influence, 
it  is  likely,  in  leading  him  so  publicly  and  earnestly  to 
seek  to  expose  its  unscripturalness.  But  perhaps  his 
zeal  for  truth  was  more  commendable  than  his  mode  of 
pursuing  it,  at  least,  in  the  instance  above  related.” 


400  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

The  condition  of  the  work  on  this  circuit  during  the 
former  part  of  the  year  was  not  encouraging.  Several 
months  passed  before  any  fruit  appeared  to  cheer  the 
hearts  of  the  laborers.  At  length,  in  January,  1789, 
signs  of  promise  began  to  be  visible.  The  congregations 
increased  in  number,  and  were  more  solemn.  The 
classes  were  better  attended,  and  all  the  religious  meet¬ 
ings  were  more  interesting  and  spiritual.  At  a  watch 
night  service  Lee  preached  on  1  Cor.  xvi.  13: — “  Watch 
ye.”  “I  found,”  he  says,  “ great  liberty  in  speaking 
from  these  words,  and  was  blessed  in  my  own  soul.  I 
spoke  very  long  and  loud,  the  power  of  God  came  doAvn 
among  the  people,  and  many  of  them  wept  greatly ; 
many  groaned  and  wept  aloud.  0  my  soul,  praise  the 
Lord,  and  let  the  remembrance  of  this  meeting  make  me 
ever  thankful.  I  spoke  with  tears  in  my  eyes  and  com¬ 
fort  in  my  soul.  If  I  may  judge  from  my  own  feelings, 
or  the  looks  of  the,  people,  I  should  conclude  that  a  re¬ 
vival  of  religion  is  about  to  take  place  in  the  neighbor¬ 
hood.  I  have  not  seen  so  melting  a  time  among  them 
before.  I  knew  not  how  to  give  over  speaking,  and  con¬ 
tinued  for  an  hour  and  three  quarters.” 

The  work  began  to  prosper,  and  the  revival  influence 
vouchsafed  to  the  circuit  continued  until  the  time  for  the 
preachers  to  take  their  departure  to  Conference.  Still, 
the  minutes  show  a  decrease  of  274  white  members  on 


THE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1788. 


401 


Flanders  circuit  this  year,  and  one  colored  member. 
The  cause  of  this  large  decrease  we  have  no  means  of 
ascertaining.  Whether  it  was  caused  by  wholesale  hack- 
sliding,  or  removals,  or  members  joining  other  churches, 
or  all  of  these  combined,  we  cannot  tell,  but  surely  the 
declension  was  a  just  reason  for  painful  inquiry  and 
sorrow. 

While  on  the  Flanders  circuit  Mr.  Lee  received  an  ac¬ 
count  of  the  conversion  of  an  Indian  woman,  which  he 
recorded  in  his  Journal.  It  is  a  singular  illustration  of 
the  truth,  that 

“  Prayer  is  the  soul’s  sincere  desire, 

Uttered  or  unexpressed 

and  of  the  Scripture  declaration,  that  God  looketh  at 
the  heart.  It  is  given  by  Lee  as  follows  : 

“  An  Indian  squaw,  who  was  awakened  some  years 
past,  when  there  was  a  great  work  among  the  Presbyte¬ 
rians  in  this  part  of  the  world,  concluded  that  God  would 
not  hear  her  because  she  could  not  pray  in  English ;  but 
in  the  depth  of  her  distress  she  recollected  that  she  could 
say  January  and  February;  and  she  immediately  began 
to  pray,  ‘January,  February;  January,  February,’  and 
repeated  the  words  till  her  soul  was  happily  converted.”* 

The  decrease  in  the  entire  white  membership  of  the 

*  Life  aud  Times  of  the  Eev.  Jesse  Lee. 


402  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

several  circuits  in  New  Jersey  this  year  was  three  hun¬ 
dred  and  one,  while  there  was  an  increase  of  six  in  the 
colored  membership,  making  the  total  decrease  two  hun¬ 
dred  and  ninety-five. 

We  turn  now  from  the  work  to  the  laborers. 

Jesse  Lee  is  the  most  distinguished  name  in  the  list 
the  present  year.  He  was  born  in  Prince  George  Co., 
Va.,  on  the  12th  of  March,  1758.  His  parents  were 
moral  and  respectable,  but  plain.  At  an  early  age  he 
was  taught  the  catechism  “out  of  the  prayer  book.” 
These  lessons  produced  a  saltuary  effect  upon  him.  “In 
a  thousand  instances,”  he  says,  “  when  I  felt  an  inclina¬ 
tion  to  act  or  speak  amiss,  I  have  been  stopped  by  the 
recollection  of  my  catechism,  some  parts  of  which  I  did 
not  understand ;  yet  it  was  good,  upon  the  whole,  that  I 
learned  it.” 

His  early  life  was  unstained  by  flagrant  offences,  “  ex¬ 
cept,”  he  says,  “one  night,  being  in  company  with  some 
wicked  young  people,  I  uttered  some  kind  of  oath  for 
which  I  felt  ashamed  and  sorry  all  the  next  day :  and 
when  alone,  I  felt  that  God  was  displeased  with  me  for 
my  bad  conduct.  I  believe  I  never  did  anything  in  my 
youth  that  the  people  called  wicked.  I  used,  however, 
to  indulge  bad  tempers,  and  use  some  vain  words.” 
When  he  was  about  fourteen  years  of  age  his  father  was 
made  the  subject  of  renewing  grace  through  the  labors 


TIIE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1788. 


403 


of  Rev.  Devereux  Jarrett,  a  zealous  and  useful  Episcopal 
clergyman,  who  rendered  important  service  to  early 
Methodism  in  Virginia.  A  remark  made  by  his  father 
about  this  time  was  the  means  of  his  conversion.  In 
conversing  with  a  pious  relative  on  the  subject  of  experi¬ 
mental  religion,  the  elder  Mr.  Lee  said  that  “if  a  man’s 
sins  were  forgiven  him  he  would  know  it.”  That  sen¬ 
tence  “took  hold,”  he  says,  “of  my  mind,  and  I  pon¬ 
dered  it  in  my  heart.”  He  asked  himself  the  question, 
“Are  my  sins  forgiven?”  He  felt  conscious  they  were 
not.  A  sense  of  his  guilt  and  exposure  to  the  retributive 
justice  of  the  Almighty  filled  his  heart  with  sadness. 
In  his  distress  he  cried  unto  the  Lord.  “  I  would  fre¬ 
quently  get  by  myself,”  he  says,  “  and  with  many  tears 
pray  to  God  to  have  mercy  upon  my  poor  soul  and  for¬ 
give  my  sins.  Sometimes  in  the  open  fields  I  would  fall 
on  my  knees,  and  pray  and  weep  till  my  heart  was  ready 
to  break.  At  other  times  my  heart  was  so  hard  that  I 
could  not  shed  a  tear.  It  would  occur  to  my  mind, 

‘  Your  day  of  grace  is  past,  and  God  will  never  forgive 
your  sins.’  It  appeared  to  me  that  of  all  sinners  in  the 
world  I  was  the  greatest ;  my  sins  appeared  to  me  greater 
in  magnitude  and  multitude  than  the  sins  of  any  other 
person.” 

Thus  he  continued  for  about  four  weeks,  “  in  which 
time,”  he  says,  “  I  never,  for  an  hour,  lost  sight  of  my 


404  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

wretched  condition.  The  cry  of  my  soul  was,  1  How 
shall  I  escape  the  misery  of  hell?’  I  cared  little  about 
the  sufferings  of  this  life,  if  I  could  but  escape  eternal 
misery.  I  read  ‘  that  some  asked  and  received  not,  be¬ 
cause  they  asked  amiss  the  remembrance  of  this  made 
me,  for  a  season,  afraid  to  use  many  words  in  prayer, 
for  fear  I  should  pray  improperly,  and,  therefore,  ask 
amiss.” 

One  morning  being  in  deep  distress,  and  fearing,  mo¬ 
mentarily,  that  he  would  fall  into  hell,  he  cried  earnestly 
for  mercy  and  his  soul  was  delivered  of  its  burden,  and 
received  the  peace  of  God.  He  felt  an  indescribable 
pleasure,  which  lasted  about  three  days,  but  he  did  not 
communicate  to  any  one  his  new  and  delightful  experi¬ 
ence.  “  I  anxiously  wished  for  some  one  to  talk  to  me 
on  the  subject,”  he  says,  “but  no  one  did.  I  then  be¬ 
gan  to  doubt  my  conversion  and  to  fear  that  I  was  de¬ 
ceived.  I  finally  concluded  that  if  I  were  not  converted 
I  would  never  rest  without  the  blessing,  and  began  to 
pray  to  the  Lord  to  show  me  my  lost  condition,  and  let 
me  feel  my  danger  as  I  had  previously  done ;  but,  as  I 
could  not  feel  the  burden  of  my  sins,  the  enemy  of  my 
soul  suggested  to  my  mind  that  the  Lord  had  forsaken 
me,  and  that  I  had  sinned  away  my  conviction,  and  de¬ 
ceived  my  own  soul.  Thus  I  was  a  prey  to  those  doubts 
and  perplexities  for  about  six  months  before  I  could  as- 


THE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1788. 


405 


suredly  believe  that  I  was  in  the  favor  of  God.  One 
evening,  traveling  in  company  with  a  religious  neighbor, 
he  asked  me  if  I  were  ever  converted.  I  told  him  I  be¬ 
lieved  I  had  been.  He  asked  me  several  questions  rela¬ 
tive  to  the  circumstances  of  the  change,  which  I  endeav¬ 
ored  to  answer.  He  then  said,  ‘You  are  surely  con¬ 
verted.’  I  was  much  strengthened  by  that  conversation, 
and  so  much  encouraged  as  to  tell  other  people,  when 
they  asked  me  what  the  Lord  had  done  for  my  soul.” 

It  was  not  long  before  his  misgivings  were  entirely 
removed  by  clearer  evidences  of  the  Divine  favor,  and 
he  was  enabled  to  say,  “  I  know  in  whom  I  have  be¬ 
lieved.” 

No  Methodist  preacher  had  entered  the  neighborhood, 
but  when,  in  1774,  a  Methodist  society  was  formed,  he, 
being  then  sixteen  years  of  age,  united  with  it,  and  from 
that  time  he  was  an  ardent  advocate  of  the  doctrines  of 
Methodism,  and  illustrated  in  his  life  their  excellence 
and  power. 

He  commenced  his  ministry  in  the  manner  usual  in 
those  days,  by  exhorting  in  prayer-meetings,  &c.,  and 
laboring  as  he  had  opportunity  for  the  salvation  of  souls, 
in  which  work  his  heart  was  deeply  enlisted.  He  did 
not,  however,  indulge  the  thought  of  rising  to  a  more 
prominent  position  in  the  Church.  But  God  had  evi- 


406  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

dently  designed  him  for  more  public  and  extended  labors, 
and  was  now  leading  him  towards  his  ultimate  destiny. 

After  he  became  a  local  preacher  he  was  drafted  into 
the  army,  but  he  refused  to  bear  arms  though  he  took  his 
place  in  the  military  ranks.  While  detained  in  the  army 
— a  period  of  nearly  four  months — he  did  not  forget  that 
he  was  a  soldier  of  the  cross,  and  he  fought  bravely  for 
the  Lord. 

For  more  than  a  year  after  he  was  released  from  the 
army,  he  zealously  proclaimed  the  word  of  life  in  his  na¬ 
tive  neighborhood.  He  was  frequently  impressed,  mean¬ 
while,  with  the  conviction  that  he  ought  to  enter  the 
itinerancy,  but  a  sense  of  the  responsibility  of  the  sacred 
office  led  him  to  hesitate.  While  the  matter  was  thus 
resting  upon  his  mind,  he  attended  the  Conference  at 
Ellis’s  preaching-house,  in  Virginia,  in  1T82.  The  spec¬ 
tacle  of  the  devoted  and  self-sacrificing  laborers  there 
assembled  moved  his  heart.  He  says,  “The  union  and 
brotherly  love  which  I  saw  among  the  preachers,  ex¬ 
ceeded  everything  I  had  seen  before,  and  caused  me  to 
wish  that  I  was  worthy  to  have  a  place  among  them. 
When  they  took  leave  of  each  other,  I  observed  that  they 
embraced  each  other  in  their  arms,  and  wept  as  though 
they  never  expected  to  meet  again.  Had  heathens  been 
there,  they  might  have  well  said,  ‘  See  how  these  Chris¬ 
tians  love  one  another !’  By  reason  of  what  I  saw  and 


THE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1788. 


407 


heard  during  the  four  days  that  the  Conference  sat,  I 
found  my  heart  truly  humbled  in  the  dust,  and  my  de¬ 
sires  greatly  increased  to  love  and  serve  God  more  per¬ 
fectly  than  I  had  ever  done  before.  At  the  close  of  the 
Conference,  Mr.  Asbury  came  to  me  and  asked  me  if  I 
was  willing  to  take  a  circuit.  I  told  him  that  I  could 
not  well  do  it,  but  signified  I  was  at  a  loss  to  know  what 
was  best  for  me  to  do.  I  was  afraid  of  hurting  the  cause 
which  I  wished  to  promote ;  for  I  was  very  sensible  of 
my  own  weakness.  At  last  he  called  to  some  of  the 
preachers  a  little  way  off,  and  said,  £  I  am  going  to  en¬ 
list  brother  Lee.’  One  of  them  replied,  ‘  What  bounty 
do  you  give  ?’  He  answered,  £  Grace  here  and  glory 
hereafter  will  be  given  if  he  is  faithful.’  Some  of  the 
preachers  then  talked  to  me,  and  persuaded  me  to  go, 
but  I  trembled  at  the  thought,  and  shuddered  at  the 
cross,  and  did  not  at  that  time  consent.” 

It  was  not  long,  however,  before  he  entered  upon  the 
arduous  and  responsible  work  to  which  his  life  was  to  be 
consecrated.  “Before  the  end  of  the  year,”  says  Rev. 
A.  Stevens,  in  his  Memorials  of  Methodism,  “he  was  on 
his  way,  with  a  colleague,  to  North  Carolina,  to  form  a 
new  and  extensive  circuit.  The  next  year  he  was  ap¬ 
pointed  to  labor  regularly  in  that  State,  and  being  now 
fully  in  the  sphere  of  his  duty,  he  was  largely  blest  with 
the  comforts  of  the  Divine  favor,  and  went  through  the 


408  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

extensive  rounds  of  his  circuit  ‘like  a  flame  of  fire.’ 
His  word  was  accompanied  with  the  authority  and  power 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Stout  hearted  men  were  smitten 
down  under  it,  large  congregations  were  often  melted 
into  tears  by  irrepressible  emotions,  and  his  eloquent 
voice  was  not  unfrequently  lost  amidst  the  sobs  and 
ejaculations  of  his  audience.  Often,  his  own  deep  sym¬ 
pathies,  while  in  the  pulpit,  could  find  relief  only  in 
tears.” 

After  Mr.  Lee  left  Flanders  circuit  he  offered  himself 
for  New  England,  and  was  appointed  to  that  field,  where 
he  succeeded  in  laying  the  foundation  of  Methodism. 
The  Rev.  Thomas  Ware  speaks  of  Mr.  Lee  in  this  con¬ 
nection,  in  an  article  in  the  Christian  Advocate  and 
Journal,  as  follows  : — “  Jesse  Lee,  styled,  by  some,  the 
Apostle  of  New  England,  was  persuaded  Methodism 
could  live  where  men  can  breathe.  He  therefore  in 
1789  offered  himself  a  missionary  for  the  land  of  the 
Pilgrims. 

“For  this  mission  Mr.  Lee  was  singularly  qualified. 
He  possessed  colloquial  powers  fascinating  in  a  high  de¬ 
gree  to  the  people  of  the  East.  His  readiness  at  repartee 
delighted  his  friends,  and  taught  those  who  might  wish 
to  be  witty  with  him  it  was  safest  to  be  civil. 

“  He  knew  he  would  have  to  contend  with  a  learned 
clergy,  venerable  for  their  outward  deportment,  and  with 


TIIE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1788. 


409 


a  shrewd  adventurous  people  who  would  not  hesitate  to 
tell  him  to  his  face  he  preached  damnable  heresies.  At 
the  same  time  he  knew  such  was  their  thirst  for  know¬ 
ledge,  and  their  independence  of  spirit,  that  they  would 
hear  for  themselves ;  and  the  truth  that  had  made  him 
free,  and  that  God  had  commissioned  him  to  preach  with 
a  power  sinners  could  not  resist,  he  felt  assured,  would 
cut  its  way  and  open  in  that  land  a  wide  field  of  action. 
He  was,  in  a  word,  a  man  of  courage.  He  feared  not 
the  face  of  man,  and  was  no  ordinary  preacher.  He 
preached  with  the  greatest  ease  of  any  man  I  have 
known,  and  was,  I  think,  the  best  every  day  preacher 
in  the  Methodist  connection.  He  states  in  his  history 
that  on  the  17th  of  June,  1789,  he  visited  Norwalk,  and 
not  being  able  to  obtain  a  house  to  preach  in,  he  took 
his  stand  in  the  street.  In  1793,  the  district  of  which  I 
had  charge  took  in  a  part  of  Connecticut,  and  I  found 
the  people  full  of  anecdotes  of  elder  Lee. 

“  £  When,’  said  an  inhabitant  of  Norwalk,  ‘  he  stood 
up  in  the  open  air  and  began  to  sing,  I  knew  not 
what  to  make  of  it.  I,  however,  drew  near  to  listen, 
and  thought  the  prayer  was  the  best  I  had  ever  heard, 
but  rather  short.  He  then  read  his  text,  and  began  in 
sententious  sentences,  brought  home  to  every  heart,  and 
compelled,  I  thought,  all  who  were  present  to  say  to  him¬ 
self,  I  am  glad  I  am  here.  All  the  time  the  people  were 


410  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

gathering,  he  continued  this  mode  of  address,  in  which 
time  he  held  up  to  our  view  such  a  variety  of  beautiful 
images  that  I  began  to  think  he  must  have  been  at  infi¬ 
nite  pains  to  crowd  so  many  pretty  things  into  his 
memory.  But  when  he  entered  upon  the  subject  matter 
of  his  text,  it  was  in  such  a  tone  of  voice,  and  in  an 
easy,  natural  flow  of  thought  and  expression,  that  I  soon 
began  to  weep,  as  did  many ;  and  when  he  was  done  we 
conferred  together,  and  our  conclusion  was,  that  such  a 
man  had  not  visited  New  England  since  the  days  of 
"VVhitefield.  I  heard  him  again,  and  thought  I  could 
follow  him  to  the  ends  of  the  earth.’  ” 

At  the  General  Conference  held  in  Baltimore  in  the 
year  1800,  Mr.  Lee  came  within  one  vote  of  being 
elected  a  bishop  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
On  the  first  ballot  the  votes  were  scattering,  and  there 
was  no  election.  On  the  second  ballot  the  tellers  re¬ 
ported  a  tie  between  Mr  Lee  and  Richard  Whatcoat. 
Had  the  former  received  only  one  more  vote  at  this  bal¬ 
loting  he  would  have  been  bishop,  but  on  the  third  ballot 
Mr.  Whatcoat  “was  declared  to  be  duly  elected  by  a 
majority  of  four  votes.” 

Mr.  Lee’s  public  labors  extended  over  most  of  the 
Union.  In  1783  he  traveled  Caswell  circuit,  N.  C. ; 
1784,  Salisbury:  1785,  Caroline,  Md. ;  1786,  Kent; 
1787,  Baltimore;  1788,  Flanders;  1789,  Stamford,  Ct.; 


THE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1788. 


411 


1790-1-2,  elder  in  Connecticut;  1793,  province  of 
Maine  and  Lynn;  1794-5-6,  Presiding  Elder  in  New 
England.  In  1797-8-9,  lie  traveled  with  Bishop  As- 
bury.  In  1800  he  was  stationed  in  the  city  of  New 
York ;  1801-2-3,  Norfolk  district ;  1804,  Petersburg, 
Ya. ;  1805,  Mecklenburg  ;  1806,  Amelia;  1807,  Sparta; 
1808,  Cumberland ;  1809,  Brunswick  ;  1810,  Meherrin 
district;  1811,  Amelia;  1812,  Richmond;  1813,  Bruns¬ 
wick;  1814,  Cumberland  and  Manchester;  1815,  Fred¬ 
ericksburg  ;  1816,  Annapolis.  During  this  year  he 
ceased  “to  work  and  live.” 

The  Rev.  and  venerated  Henry  Boehm  of  the  Newark 
Conference,  was  privileged  to  be  with  him  in  his  last 
hours.  He  thus  describes  the  good  man’s  end : — 

“  Through  the  first  part  of  his  illness  his  mind  was 
much  weighed  down,  so  that  he  spake  but  little.  On 
Tuesday  night,  September  10th,  he  broke  out  in  ecsta¬ 
sies  of  joy.  Also  on  Wednesday,  11th,  about  nine 
o’clock,  A.M.,  he  delivered  himself  in  words  like  these : 
‘Glory!  glory!  glory!  Hallelujah!  Jesus  reigns.’  On 
the  same  evening  he  spoke  nearly  twenty  minutes,  de¬ 
liberately  and  distinctly  ;  among  other  things  he  directed 
me  to  write  to  his  brother  Ned,  and  let  him  know  he 
died  happy  in  the  Lord. 

Give  my  respects  to  Bishop  M’Kendree,’  said  he, 
‘  and  tell  him  that  I  die  in  love  with  all  the  preachers  ; 


412  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

that  I  love  him,  and  that  he  lives  in  my  heart.’  Then 
he  took  his  leave  of  all  present,  six  or  seven  in  number, 
and  requested  us  to  pray.  This  solemn  night  will  never 
be  forgotten  by  me.  After  this  he  spake  but  little. 
Thursday,  the  12th,  in  the  early  part  of  the  day,  he  lost 
his  speech,  but  appeared  to  retain  his  reason.  Thus  he 
continued  to  linger  till  the  same  evening,  about  half 
past  seven  o’clock,  when,  without  a  sigh  or  groan,  he 
expired,  with  his  eyes  seemingly  fixed  on  the  prize.”  * 
Aaron  Hutchinson  was  born  at  Milford,  Mercer 
county,  N.  J.  the  17th  of  May  1767.  He  was  converted 
to  God  about  the  year  1786,  and  though  the  youngest 
of  the  four  brothers  who  became  preachers,  he  was  the 
first  to  enter  the  itinerant  field.  “  When  converted  to 
God,”  says  Rev.  H.  B.  Beegle,  to  whom  I  am  indebted 
for  the  following  notice  of  him — “When  converted  to 
God  he  gave  evidence  of  such  gifts,  and  promise  of  so 
much  usefulness  to  the  Church,  that  brother  M’Claskey 
immediately  took  him  along  with  him  around  the  circuit 
requiring  him  to  exercise  his  gifts  in  prayer  and  exhoi’- 
tation.  When  they  came  came  back  to  Joseph  Hutchin¬ 
son’s,  brother  M’Claskey  said  he  must  preach  there.  It 
was  a  great  cross  to  the  youthful  soldier.  But  a  few 
months  since  he  was  converted ;  and  no  opportunities  for 
study,  for  they  had  been  on  the  wing  from  the  time  they 


*  Minutes. 


TIIE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1788.  413 

left  until  they  returned.  And  then  to  open  his  commis¬ 
sion  among  his  own  kindred  too.  But  he  lifted  his  cross 
and  stood  up,  and  preached  from  Isa.  ii.  3.  They  were 
all  astonished  at  the  marvelous  manner  in  which  God 
assisted  the  stripling.  His  mother,  especially,  wept  pro¬ 
fusely  through  the  whole  service.  He  was  immediately 
called  out  as  a  supply  on  some  of  the  large  circuits. 
Whether  he  labored  with  M’Claskey  and  Cooper  on 
‘  East  Jersey’  or  went  elsewhere  we  know  not,  hut  it  is 
settled  that  he  labored  somewhere  during  most  of  the 
year  1786.  At  the  Conference  of  1787  he  was  admitted 
as  a  traveling  preacher,  and  appointed  to  Dover,  Del. ; 
in  1788  and  ’89  he  was  on  Flanders  circuit;  in  1790  he 
was  appointed  to  Trenton,  where  he  ended  his  labors. 

“  The  General  Minutes,  in  noting  his  death,  contain  an 
estimate  of  him  by  his  brethren  of  the  Conference. 
They  say  he  was  ‘  a  man  of  clear  understanding ;  gospel 
simplicity ;  blameless  in  his  life ;  acceptable  as  a  preacher ; 
fruitful  in  his  labors,  which  ended  in  the  short  space  of 
four  years.  He  was  patient,  resigned,  and  confident  in 
his  last  moments.’ 

“  He  was  married  some  time  during  his  ministry  to  a 

lady  by  the  name  of  Jaques.  He  frequently  tried  his 

hand  at  poetry.  On  meeting  with  Mrs.  Hannah  Salter, 

a  daughter  of  Aaron  Hutchinson,  she  informed  me  of 

her  father’s  poetic  tendencies,  and  of  the  many  effusions 
26 


414  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

of  his  she  had  stored  away.  She  was  away  from  home 
at  the  time,  hut  with  one  she  was  so  familiar  that  she 
could  repeat  it,  and  as  she  did  so  I  penned  it  as  follows : 

THE  GOOD  SAMARITAN. 

The  road  that  leads  to  Jericho, 

That  bloody  way  that  sinners  go  : 

They  fall  among  the  thieves  of  hell, 

Eternally  with  them  to  dwell. 

I  never  shall  forget  the  day 
When  on  that  road  I  bleeding  lay  ; 

Was  stript,  and  wounded — left  half  dead, 

And  not  a  friend  to  raise  my  head. 

A  priest  came  there,  but  he  passed  by ; 

He  never  stopped  to  hear  my  cry  : 

A  Levite  looked  upon  my  wound 
But  no  relief  from  him  I  found. 

Samaritans  I  did  despise, 

Yet  one  drew  near  and  heard  my  cries  ; 

He  gently  raised  me  from  the  ground, 

Poured  oil  and  wine  into  my  wound. 

He  kindly  took  me  to  an  Inn, 

A  place  where  I  had  never  been ; 

He  watched,  and  fed,  and  clothed  me  there — 

Made  me  the  object  of  his  care. 

And  when  my  friend  departed  thence 
He  called  the  host  and  gave  two  pence  ; 

Saying,  ‘‘If  more  on  him  he  spent, 

I  will  repay  ;  it’s  only  lent.” 


THE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1788. 


415 


I  will  repay  thee  when  I  come 
To  take  my  ransomed  people  home, 

Where  sickness,  sorrow,  death,  nor  pain 
Shall  never  trouble  them  again. 

What  rapturous  awe  will  fill  my  soul 
When  I  see  Him  who  made  me  whole ; 

Throughout  eternal,  boundless  days 
This  good  Samaritan  I’ll  praise ! 

“  Brother  Hutcliinson  departed  this  life  at  Milford, 
July  80,  1791,  and  his  remains  lie  in  the  old  burial 
ground  there.” 

John  Lee  was  a  brother  of  Jesse,  and  was  admitted 
on  trial  the  present  year  and  appointed  to  Flanders  cir¬ 
cuit.  The  ensuing  year  he  was  appointed  to  Long 
Island  with  Wm.  Phoebus.  In  1790  he  went  to  New 
England  and  labored  on  the  New  Haven  circuit.  He 
located  in  1791  in  consequence  of  ill  health. 

He  was  but  about  eighteen  years  of  age  when  he 
traveled  Flanders  circuit,  but  he  was  devoted  and  useful. 
He  was  emphatically  a  man  of  prayer,  “rising,  often,  in 
the  midst  of  wintry  nights,  while  all  others  around  were 
wrapped  in  sleep,  and  struggling,  like  Jacob,  in  suppli¬ 
cations  for  himself,  the  Church,  and  the  world.”  The 
Rev.  Enoch  Mudge  gave  the  following  sketch  of  Mr. 
Lee,  which  we  extract  from  Stevens’s  Memorials  of 
Methodism  in  New  England :  “  He  was  a  lively,  ani- 


416  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

mated  preacher,  had  a  strong,  clear,  musical  voice,  and 
was  affectionate  in  his  address.  As  he  had  drunk  deep 
of  the  cup  of  bitterness,  of  wormwood  and  gall,  for  his 
own  sins,  he  had  a  sympathizing  heart  for  those  who 
were  in  distress.  He  was  the  instrument,  in  God’s  hand, 
of  ministering  the  balm  of  comfort  to  my  sin-sick  soul. 
He  was  emphatically  a  son  of  consolation.  He  had  a 
pleasant  and  profitable  gift  of  exhortation,  which  he 
often  improved  after  his  brother  Jesse  and  others  had 
preached.  He  had  the  happy  faculty  of  bringing  re¬ 
ligious  truth  home  to  the  minds  and  hearts  of  his  hearers, 
in  an  easy,  familiar  way,  and  of  carrying  their  feelings 
with  him  into  the  pleasant  paths  of  practical  piety.  He 
was  of  a  consumptive  habit,  frequently  spitting  blood, 
which  was  increased  by  often  speaking  in  public.” 

The  circumstances  of  Mr.  Lee’s  death  were  quite  re¬ 
markable.  In  the  summer  of  1801  he  left  his  home  in 
Petersburg,  Va.,  and  took  a  tour  through  the  mountainous 
parts  of  the  State  with  the  view  of  recruiting  his  feeble 
health.  During  this  journey  his  mind  was  in  a  very  de¬ 
vout  frame,  and  in  one  of  his  letters  he  wrote,  “  I  thank 
God  that  I  delight  in  resigning  myself  to  him,  and  wish 
with  all  my  heart 

‘  His  pleasure  to  fulfill/ 

I  long  to  be  like  him,  and  to  suffer  with  him,  that  I  may 


THE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1788. 


417 


reign  with  him.”  Late  in  the  day  on  which  he  died  he 
stopped  at  the  residence  of  a  pious  widow  in  Wilkes 
county,  North  Carolina,  and  he  had  been  there  but  a 
short  time  when  he  informed  the  family  that  he  expected 
to  die  during  the  night.  They  were  greatly  surprised 
at  this,  as  he  was  then  walking  about  the  room.  He 
then  went  out  to  his  servant,  who  was  feeding  the  horses, 
and  requested  him  to  take  good  care  of  them  as  he 
should  never  see  them  fed  again.  He  asked  his  servant 
to  sit  down  beside  him  on  a  log,  when  he  told  him  that 
the  ulcer  on  his  lungs  had  broke,  and  he  should  die  that 
night.  He  placed  some  valuable  papers  in  his  hands 
directing  him  what  to  do  with  them ;  he  also  instructed 
him  about  getting  home,  and  continued  his  conversation 
with  the  utmost  composure  until  nearly  dark,  when  he 
arose  and  walked  to  the  house.  He  desired  some  water, 
with  which  he  bathed  his  feet,  and  remarked,  “I  am 
sure  I  am  about  to  die.”  He  inquired  of  some  of  the 
family  if  they  could  sing,  and  on  being  answered,  “Not 
well,”  he  asked  if  any  of  them  would  engage  in  prayer. 
No  response  being  given,  he  kneeled  down  and  prayed 
aloud  for  some  time,  requesting  the  Lord  to  give  him  pa¬ 
tience  and  take  him  to  heaven.  He  rose  and  said  to  his 
servant,  “  Give  my  love  to  everybody,  and  tell  my  friends 
not  to  mourn  or  grieve  after  me,  for  I  am  happy  and 
sure  of  heaven.”  After  a  time  he  again  bowed  in 


418  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

prayer,  then  arose,  walked  about  and  told  the  family  he 
was  then  about  to  die.  He  knelt  the  third  time  and 
prayed  until  his  servant,  perceiving  that  his  voice  was 
failing,  lifted  him  up  and  placed  him  on  a  chair.  Being 
in  a  profuse  sweat,  he  requested  his  servant  to  wipe  his 
face,  which  he  did,  and  then  took  him  in  his  arms  and 
laid  him  on  a  bed.  He  stretched  himself,  and  then 
“  died  in  Jesus  without  a  struggle  or  a  groan.” 

Jethro  Johnson  was  appointed  to  four  different  cir¬ 
cuits  in  New  Jersey  during  his  itinerancy, — Trenton, 
Salem,  Elizabethtown,  and  Flanders.  He  entered  the 
traveling  connection  in  1788,  and  withdrew  in  1794. 

John  Merrick  was  received  on  trial  in  1786,  and  ap¬ 
pointed  to  Somerset,  Md. ;  1787,  Kent;  1788,  Trenton; 
1789,  New  York,  for  four  months;  1790,  Burlington. 
In  1791  he  was  elder  of  the  New  Jersey  district.  In 
1792  his  district  did  not  extend  any  farther  than  the 
Trenton  circuit  in  Jersey,  hut  embraced  the  city  of  New 
York.  In  1794  New  York  appears  on  another  district, 
and  Mr.  Merrick’s  district  embraced  only  Freehold, 
Salem,  Bethel,  Trenton,  and  Burlington, — Staten  Island, 
Elizabethtown,  and  Flanders  being  in  the  same  district 
as  New  York.  In  1794  he  remained  on  the  same  dis¬ 
trict.  In  1795  his  district  remained  the  same,  so  far  as 
New  Jersey  was  concerned,  but  was  extended  from  Wil¬ 
mington  in  the  south  to  Canada  in  the  north,  embrac- 


THE  ECCLESIASTICAL  YEAR  1788. 


419 


ing  Wilmington,  Chester,  Bristol,  Philadelphia,  Niagara, 
Bay  Quinte,  and  Oswegotchie.  It  does  not  seem  possible 
that  one  man  should  be  able  to  perform  the  labor  which 
such  a  district  would  require.  We  cannot  learn  his  ap¬ 
pointment  for  1796.  In  1797  he  is  returned  among  the 
located.  Mr.  Merrick  was,  it  is  said,  a  superior  preacher, 
and  a  man  much  beloved  by  those  who  knew  him.  As 
an  evidence  of  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held,  many 
families  named  children  after  him. 

One  day,  as  he  was  riding  along  the  road  somewhere 
in  West  Jersey,  he  was  accosted  by  an  old  Friend  in  the 
following  manner: — “Is  thee  not  a  public  speaker?” 

He  replied  he  was  a  person  who  “  endeavored  to  in¬ 
struct  people  when  he  had  an  opportunity.” 

“Is  thee  not  a  Methodist?” 

“  I  belong  to  that  denomination.” 

“Well,  I  have  heard  the  Episcopalians,  Presbyterians, 
Baptists,  and  several  others,  but  I  never  heard  any  like 
the  Methodists.” 

“  Why  so  ?  In  what  do  they  differ  from  others  ?” 

“  Why  they  get  right  into  the  heart,  and  there  they 
stick  until  they  tear  it  all  to  pieces.” 

There  were  two  John  Coopers  in  the  work  this  year, 
one  of  whom  appears  in  the  ranks  for  the  first  time. 
We  presume  it  was  he  that  was  appointed  to  Salem  cir¬ 
cuit  this  year.  lie  went  to  Nova  Scotia  and  finally  located. 


420  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

THE  WORK  AND  THE  LABORERS  IN  1789. 

The  Conference  for  the  district  of  New  Jersey  was 
held  at  Trenton,  beginning  on  Saturday,  May  23, 
1789.  “  It  was  opened,”  says  Asbury,  “  in  great  peace. 

We  labored  for  a  manifestation  of  the  Lord’s  power,  and 
it  was  not  altogether  in  vain.”  The  session  appears  to 
have  been  remarkably  brief,  as  Asbury  speaks  of  riding 
to  Elizabethtown  through  a  heavy  rain  on  Monday,  and 
the  ensuing  day  he  arrived  at  New  York.  Annual  Con¬ 
ferences  in  those  days,  however,  had  fewer  members  and 
far  less  business  to  transact  than  now. 

At  this  Conference  Benjamin  Abbott,  among  others, 
was  admitted  on  trial.  By  his  earnest  and  untiring  la¬ 
bors  for  fifteen  years  as  a  local  preacher,  he  had  greatly 
promoted  the  work  of  God  in  West  Jersey,  and  made  an 
impression  upon  the  rising  Methodism  of  that  portion  of 
the  State  which  can  never  be  effaced.  He  now  felt  that 
Providence  directed  him  to  a  more  extended  sphere  of  la- 


THE  WORK  AND  THE  LABORERS  IN  1789.  421 

bor,  and  though  well  advanced  in  life  he  heroically 
entered  upon  the  work  of  a  regular  itinerant  preacher  in 
Dutchess  circuit,  N.  Y.,  and  continued  to  toil  in  the  va¬ 
rious  fields  assigned  him  until  his  vigorous  constitution 
sunk  beneath  the  pressure  of  years  and  labor,  and  his 
mighty  spirit,  radiant  in  the  lustre  of  heavenly  virtues, 
ascended  triumphantly  to  its  immortal  rest.  The  de¬ 
lineation  of  his  noble  character  will  fall  within  the  scope 
of  a  subsequent  volume  should  it  ever  be  prepared. 

The  appointments  for  the  ensuing  year  were  as  fol¬ 
lows  : — 

James  0.  Cromwell,  Presiding  Elder.  Salem  ;  Simon 
Pile,  Jethro  Johnson,  Sylvester  Hutchinson.  Trenton ; 
Joseph  Cromwell,  Richard  Swain.  Burlington ;  John 
M’Claskey,  William  Jackson.  Flanders  ;  Aaron  Hutch¬ 
inson,  Daniel  Combs.  Elizabethtown ;  John  Merrick, 
John  Cooper. 

On  the  26th  of  June  Asbury  appears  in  the  northern 
end  of  the  State,  “and  the  power  of  God,”  he  says, 
“  came  down  among  the  people  at  B’s,  and  there  was  a 
great  melting.  After  meeting  we  rode  through  the  heat 
fifteen  miles  to  Pepper  Cotton.”  The  next  day  he  rode 
to  the  Stone  Church,  and  Mr.  (afterward  Bishop)  What- 
coat,  who  accompanied  him  in  this  journey,  preached  for 
him  there.  This  seems  to  have  been  a  Church  in  which 
the  Methodists  preached  by  sufferance,  as  he  says,  “  The 


422  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

Methodists  ought  to  preach  only  in  their  own  houses  ;  I 
have  done  with  the  houses  of  other  people.”  “When  I 
see  the  stupidity  of  the  people,”  he  continues,  “and  the 
contentiousness  of  their  spirit,  1  pity  and  grieve  over 
them.  I  have  hard  labor  in  traveling  amongst  the  rocks 
and  hills.”  On  Sabbath  he  “spoke  a  few  words  at 
Swcezey’s,  to  insensible  people,”  and  then  drove  to  Ax- 
ford’s,  where  he  enjoyed  life  and  liberty  among  his 
hearers.  On  Monday  Mr.  Whatcoat  preached  at  C.’s, 
“while  some  of  the  audience  slept.”  Thence  they  went 
to  Col.  M’Cullough’s,  where  Asbury  was  annoyed  by 
Adam  Cloud,  who  had  been  disowned  by  the  Conference. 
“  He  had,”  says  Asbury,  “in  some  instances  fallen  short 
of  his  quarterage  during  his  ministry,  and  now  insisted 
on  my  paying  him  his  deficiencies :  I  did  not  conceive 
that  in  justice  or  conscience  this  was  required  of  me ; 
nevertheless,  to  get  rid  of  him,  I  gave  him  <£14.” 

Though  there  was  a  declension  in  the  membership  of 
295  during  the  past  year,  the  work  greatly  prospered  in 
the  several  circuits  in  the  State  this  year,  and  wThen  the 
preachers  went  to  Conference  at  the  end  of  the  year 
they  had  very  encouraging  reports  to  bear  from  their 
fields  of  labor.  Salem  circuit  was  favored  wTith  wonder¬ 
ful  effusions  of  the  Spirit,  and  within  the  bounds  of  the 
present  county  of  Salem  hundreds  were  converted  to 
God. 


THE  WORK  AND  THE  LABORERS  IN  1789.  423 

Sylvester  Hutcliinson,  who  was  one  of  the  preachers 
on  this  circuit  the  present  year,  was  one  day  made  the 
object  of  sport  by  two  young  women,  in  the  house  where 
he  was  temporarily  lodging.  44  They  began  to  banter 
him  upon  his  size  and  insignificant  appearance ;  when, 
suddenly  lifting  his  head  from  its  reclining  posture,  he 
repeated  in  slow,  solemn  tones,  a  verse  of  a  hymn : — 

‘My  thoughts  ou  awful  subjects  roll : 

Damuation  and  the  dead ; 

What  horrors  seize  a  guilty  soul 
Upon  a  dying  bed !’ 

44  The  time,  the  place,  the  words,  and  manner  of  re¬ 
citation,  all  combined  to  produce  pungent  and  lasting 
conviction ;  the  young  women  both  immediately  fled 
from  the  room,  weeping,  and  were  without  rest  or  peace 
until  their  hearts  were  given  to  the  Lord.  Both  ladies, 
for  such  they  were,  joined  the  then  ‘poor,  despised’ 
Methodists. 

44  On  a  certain  day  a  man  on  horseback  overtook  the 
young  preacher  riding  along  the  road,  and,  no  doubt, 
thought  to  have  some  fun. 

44  4  How  do  you  do  ?  Which  way  are  you  traveling  ?’ 

44  4  1  do  the  Lord’s  work  ;  you  do  the  devil’s.  I  am 
on  the  way  to  heaven ;  you  are  going  to  hell,  where  fire 
and  brimstone  are  the  fuel,  and  the  smoke  of  torment 
ascendeth  for  ever  and  ever.’ 


424  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

“  The  alarmed  man  put  spurs  to  his  horse  and  rode 
away,  hut  was  found  at  the  next  meeting,  weeping  among 
the  seekers  of  religion.  He  became  an  eminent  servant 
of  God.”* 

# 

During  this  year  Mr.  Hutchinson  received  an  invita¬ 
tion  from  Rev.  Ethan  Osborne,  the  pastor  of  the  Pres¬ 
byterian  Church  in  Fairfield,  Cumberland  county,  to  oc¬ 
cupy  his  pulpit  when  he  came  to  preach  in  Fairfield, 
which  invitation  was  accepted,  and,  as  the  result  num¬ 
bers  were  added  to  the  Church.  But  they  were  not 
added  to  the  Methodist  Church.  They  became  members 
of  Mr.  Osborne’s  Church,  and  perceiving  this  Mr. 
Hutchinson  declined  preaching  there  any  more,  but 
henceforth  confined  his  labors  to  his  legitimate  sphere  as 
a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

There  was  also,  Asbury  informs  us,  “  a  most  genuine 
work”  in  Flanders,  Trenton,  Burlington,  and  Bethel  cir¬ 
cuits.  At  the  Conference  of  1790,  Salem  reported  933 
white  members  and  21  colored ;  Burlington,  353  white 
and  12  colored ;  Trenton,  429  white  and  33  colored ; 
Elizabethtown,  237  white  and  16  colored ;  Flanders, 
322  white  and  7  colored.  The  increase  this  year  of 
white  members  was  570,  and  of  colored  members  42, 
making  the  total  increase  612.  The  entire  membership, 


*  Raybold’s  Methodism  in  West  Jersey. 


THE  WORK  AND  THE  LABORERS  IN  1789.  425 

white  and  colored,  in  the  five  circuits  in  New  Jersey  at 
the  close  of  the  present  ecclesiastical  year  was  2863. 

The  most  distinguished  name  in  the  ministry  the  pre¬ 
sent  year  is  that  of  Sylvester  Hutchinson.  He  was 
the  third  of  four  brothers,  all  of  whom,  as  we  have  seen, 
became  preachers,  and  three  of  them  itinerants.  Syl¬ 
vester  was  born  at  Milford,  Mercer  Co.  N.  J.,  April  20, 
1765.  The  Rev.  H.  B.  Beegle  of  the  New  Jersey  Con¬ 
ference,  in  a  sketch  of  him,  which  he  kindly  furnished 
the  writer,  the  material  for  which  he  derived  mainly  from 
his  surviving  widow  and  son,  Mr.  Daniel  P.  Hutchinson, 
of  Hightstown,  N.  J.,  says : 

“  Of  his  early  life  but  little  is  known  beyond  the  fact 
that  he  was  quite  correct  in  his  habits,  and  was  what 
would  be  called  a  steady  and  moral  young  man.  He 
was  not  regarded  in  his  early  days  as  giving  as  much 
promise  as  his  brothers.  He  was  by  no  means  as  for¬ 
ward  as  Aaron ;  and  Thomas  Baldwin,  his  old  school 
teacher,  now  a  resident  of  Cranberry,  Middlesex  county, 
once  asked  him  why  he  did  not  learn  as  fast  as  his 
brother  Aaron.  He  replied,  ‘  Because  they  keep  me  at 
home  to  work  and  send  Aaron  to  school.’  ” 

He  was  awakened  about  the  year  1786.  “But  he  was 
a  long  time,”  continues  Mr.  Beegle,  “in  obtaining  a  sat¬ 
isfactory  evidence  of  his  acceptance  with  God.  He  wept 
and  prayed,  read  the  Scriptures,  sought  advice  from 


426  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

Christians,  and  used  all  the  means  likely  to  advance  his 
soul’s  interests.  The  Baptist  minister  at  Hightstown, 
learning  of  his  seriousness,  visited  him  at  his  father’s 
house,  and  tried  to  persuade  him  to  join  their  communion 
and  become  a  preacher  among  them.  He  expressed  a 
decided  preference  for  the  Methodists,  and  said  4  If  the 
Methodists  are  not  the  people  of  God,  I  think  he  has  no 
people  upon  earth.’  While  he  was  under  exercise  of  mind, 
he  was  in  the  habit  of  reading  the  Bible  and  praying 
much  every  day  all  alone  in  his  bed  room.  One  day, 
while  he  was  meditating  upon  his  condition,  a  figure  ap¬ 
peared  at  the  foot  of  his  bed  which  he  believed  to  be  the 
figure  of  Christ.  This  at  once  satisfied  him  and  he  no 
more  doubted.  He  went  on  his  way  rejoicing.  He  fully 
expected  when  he  reached  heaven  he  should  see  and 
know  the  same  figure  which  appeared  to  him  on  earth. 

44  He  entered  the  ministry  and  joined  the  Conference 
in  1789,  and  was  appointed  to  Salem  circuit.  In  1790 
he  was  appointed  to  Chester;  1791,  to  Fell’s  point; 
1792,  at  Wilmington;  1793-4,  Croton;  1795,  Long 
Island;  and  from  1796  to  1800  he  was  Presiding  Elder. 
But  we  cannot  follow  him  through  all  his  ministerial  life. 
Dr.  Clarke,  in  his  Life  and  Times  of  Hedding,  gives  us  a 
very  interesting  description  of  this  eminent  man  and  his 
labors.  He  says :  4  The  district  was  of  gigantic  propor¬ 
tions  and  the  Presiding  Eldership  no  sinecure  in  those 


THE  WORK  AND  THE  LABORERS  IN  1789.  427 

days.  It  embraced  New  York  city,  the  whole  of  Long 
Island,  and  extended  northward,  embracing  the  whole 
territory,  having  -the  Connecticut  river  on  the  east  and 
Hudson  river  and  Lake  Champlain  on  the  west,  and 
stretching  far  into  Canada.  It  embraced  nearly  the 
whole  territory  now  included  in  three  Annual  Confer¬ 
ences.  This  immense  district  was  then  traveled  by  Syl¬ 
vester  Hutchinson.  lie  was  a  man  of  burning  zeal  and 
of  indomitable  energy.  Mounted  upon  his  favorite  horse, 
he  would  ride  through  the  entire  extent  of  his  district 
once  each  three  months,  visiting  each  circuit,  and  inva¬ 
riably  filling  all  his  appointments.  His  voice  rung  like 
a  trumpet’s  blast ;  and,  with  words  of  fire,  and  in  power¬ 
ful  demonstration  of  the  Spirit,  he  preached  Christ 
Jesus.’ 

“  His  travels  were  indeed  extensive,  and  his  labors 
herculean.  He  often  stated  to  his  son  and  wife  (now 
widow)  that  he  rode  from  fifty  to  sixty  miles  per  day,  and 
preached  from  one  to  three  times  per  day,  except  Satur¬ 
day,  when  he  seldom  preached  more  than  once.  His  al¬ 
lowance,  he  said,  was  thirty  dollars  per  annum,  and  often 
he  did  not  get  that.  He  was  not  accustomed  to  think 
what  he  wanted ,  but  what  he  could  not  possibly  do  with¬ 
out.  At  one  time  he  started  for  home,  a  distance  of  some 
three  hundred  miles.  He  had  but  little  money  and  that 
was  soon  gone.  Hiding  along  he  saw  a  hou&e  a  short 


428  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

distance  from  tlie  road,  and  concluded  to  ride  up  and 
seek  for  entertainment  for  the  night.  The  gentleman 
of  the  house  was  not  at  home,  but  he  was  assured  by  the 
good  lady  that  he  would  he  soon,  and  was  invited  to  stay. 
The  gentleman  proved  to  be  a  member  of  the  legislature, 
and  a  very  agreeable  and  benevolent  man,  for  the  next 
morning  when  he  left  he  voluntarily  placed  in  his  hands 
money  enough  to  carry  him  home.  Thus  God  provided, 
sometimes,  for  his  faithful  and  needy  servants. 

“In  1806  his  name  appears  on  the  Minutes  in  the  list 
of  those  located.  It  is  impossible  to  get  all  the  facts  at 
this  late  day  which  would  give  a  true  history  of  this  lo¬ 
cation.  The  widow  and  son,  however,  are  very  distinct 
in  their  recollection  of  having  heard  Sylvester  say  over 
and  over  again  that  Mr.  Asbury  was  to  blame  for  his 
leaving  the  Church.  He  said  that  he  was  in  the  good 
graces  of  Mr.  Asbury  until  the  difficulty  occurred  about 
his  marriage.  He  was  to  marry  a  young  lady  belonging 
to  an  influential  family,  and  the  friends,  especially  one 
brother,  made  such  desperate  opposition  that  it  was 
broken  off  on  the  day  the  wedding  was  to  have  taken 
place.  That  Mr.  Asbury  reprimanded  him  severely  for 
not  marrying  the  girl  at  all  hazards,  as  he  was  engaged 
to  her ;  that  both  of  them  being  of  good  metal  they  had 
a  warm  time ;  and  that  Sylvester  came  home  on  a  visit, 
and  that  Mr.  Asbury  had  his  name  left  off  the  Minutes 


THE  WORK  AND  THE  LABORERS  IN  1789.  429 


of  the  Conference.  There  would  seem  to  he  truth  in 
this  from  the  fact  that  in  the  year  1804  his  name  appears 
in  the  list  of  elders,  but  he  has  no  appointment  given 
him ;  while  in  1805  his  name  is  not  to  he  found  in  the 
Minutes  anywhere.  But  in  1806  he  is  set  down  as  lo¬ 
cated.  He  was  deeply  moved  at  the  omission  of  his 
name  from  the  Minutes,  he  says,  without  the  consent  of 
the  Conference  too,  and  he  could  not  get  over  it.” 

We  must  here  interrupt  the  flow  of  brother  Beegle’s 
graceful  narrative  to  record  a  fact  which  illustrates  this 
matter  more  fully.  It  is  given  upon  the  authority  of 
Mr.  Daniel  P.  Hutchinson.  He  says:  “Finding,  on  his 
return  from  his  visit  home,  that  his  name  was  dropped 
from  the  Minutes,  he  remonstrated  with  Mr.  Asbury  for 
having  done  it,  and  offered  to  continue  in  the  ministry. 
Mr.  Asbury  finally  offered  him  a  circuit,  but  it  was  one 
in  which  he  was  not  acceptable  to  the  people.  There 
was  also  another  preacher  who  was  not  very  acceptable 
where  he  had  been  sent,  and  Mr.  H.  and  he  proposed  to 
Mr.  A.  that  they  should  be  exchanged ;  but  this  was  re¬ 
fused,  and  turning  to  Mr.  H.  he  said,  ‘  Go  there  or  go 
home,’  to  which  Mr.  H.  answered,  ‘  Then  I  must  go 
home,’  and  thus  ended  his  connection  with  the  M.  E. 
Church.” 

He  joined  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church  some 

time  afterward,  and  preached  more  or  less  among  them 
27 


480  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

for  several  years.  The  last  station  he  filled  was  Ken¬ 
sington,  Philadelphia.  “Before  he  died,”  continues  Mr. 
Beegle,  44  his  wife  asked  him  if  he  had  not  better  come 
back  to  the  old  Church.  Pie  expressed  himself  perfectly 
willing,  but  his  death  occurring  soon  after,  it  was  never 
consumated.  He  felt  an  ardent  attachment  to  the  min¬ 
isters  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  felt  at  home  in  their  so¬ 
ciety,  and  delighted  to  entertain  them.  In  view  of  what 
he  had  suffered  for  the  Church,  and  his  remarkable  la¬ 
bors  in  her  behalf,  we  can  account  readily  for  this,  even 
while  he  belonged  to  another  branch  of  the  Methodist 
family. 

“  Brother  Wakeley,  in  his  4  Lost  Chapters,’  gives  some 
account  of  Sylvester  Hutchinson,  but  has  fallen  into 
some  errors  and  also  casts  a  dark  reflection  upon  him. 
He  was  not  born  in  Burlington  county  as  he  asserts,  but 
in  Mercer  county,  and  he  never  was  engaged  in  a  land 
agency  in  the  West  as  he  says.  He  also  says,  page  532, 
that  4  His  history  after  his  location  shows  the  exceeding 
danger  of  ministers  leaving  their  legitimate  calling,’  &c. 
Now  one  -would  infer  from  this  that  he  lost  his  piety,  be¬ 
came  immoral,  or  suffered  some  terrible  calamity,  which 
would  make  him  an  example  of  warning  to  others.  But 
if  anything  more  is  intended  than  the  fact  that  he  joined 
another  branch  of  the  Methodist  family  (for  which  he 
thought  he  had  good  reason)  it  is  utterly  unfounded. 


THE  WORK  AND  THE  LABORERS  IN  1789.  431 

He  was  the  same  in  spirit  from  the  first  sermon  he 
preached  until  the  last.  Many  will  testify  to  that. 

“  About  the  last  time  the  son  heard  his  father  speak 
in  love-feast  or  class  meeting,  which  was  a  short  time  be¬ 
fore  his  death,  he  said,  ‘  I  feel  that  my  work  is  done.  I 
am  ready  to  go  but  not  impatient  to  depart ;  willing  to 
wait  till  the  Master  calls.’  ” 

We  have  seen  that  he  abounded  in  labors  and  endured 
his  full  share  of  hardships  in  the  itinerancy.  At  one 
time,  his  son  informs  us,  while  he  was  traveling  in  the 
North  he  was  attacked  with  the  winter  fever,  but  he  per¬ 
sisted  in  traveling  and  rode  all  day,  taking  ten  grains  of 
calomel  every  two  hours,  until  he  had  swallowed  eighty 
grains.  At  another  time  he  took  calomel  and  rode  all 
day  in  the  rain.  He  could  not  enjoy  a  day’s  rest,  for  if 
he  stopped  he  would  fall  so  far  behind  his  appointments 
that  he  could  not  overtake  them.  He  was  accustomed 
to  rise  at  four  o’clock  and  ride  twenty  miles  before  eating 
breakfast,  sometimes  arriving  at  his  place  of  breakfast 
before  the  people  had  risen  from  their  beds.  He  trav¬ 
eled  through  forests,  in  storms,  over  mountains,  and 
across  rivers,  sometimes  on  snow  drifts  from  20  to  30 
feet  deep,  at  other  times  almost  buried  in  them. 

Mr.  Hutchinson  was  married  on  the  10th  of  May, 
1808,  to  a  very  estimable  lady  by  the  name  of  Phebe 
Phillips,  who  still  survives  him.  For  two  years  previous 


432  MEMORIALS  OF  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

to  his  death  he  was  afflicted  with  disease  of  the  heart. 
The  last  day  of  his  life  he  was  as  well  as  usual,  and  after 
retiring  for  the  night,  Mrs.  IT.  supposed  him  going  into 
a  sound  sleep,  but  soon  discovered  it  was  death.  He 
died  Nov.  11th,  1840,  and  his  remains  lie  in  the  cemetery 
of  the  Borough  of  Hightstown,  whither  they  were  re¬ 
moved  a  few  years  since  by  a  devoted  son.  The  follow¬ 
ing  is  the  inscription  upon  his  tombstone  : 

SACRED 

TO  THE 

HI t  nt  o  x g  of 

Bey.  SYLVESTER  HUTCHINSON, 

WHO  DEPARTED  THIS  LIFE 
Nov.  11,  1840, 

AGED  75  YEARS 
AND  SIX  MOS. 

From  infancy  to  hoary  hairs 
He  all  my  griefs  and  burdens  bears  ; 

Supports  me  in  his  arms  of  love, 

And  hides  my  ransomed  life  above. 

“  The  family  from  whom  these  Hutchinsons  sprung  is 
a  very  remarkable  one  for  longevity.  Ann  Hutchinson, 
wife  of  William  Hutchinson,  and  grandmother  of  the 
four  brothers  who  were  ministers,  has  this  remarkable 
inscription  on  her  headstone : 

“‘Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Ann  Hutchinson,  relict  of 
Wm.  Hutchinson,  Esq.,  departed  this  life,  Jan  4,  1801. 


THE  WORK  AND  THE  LABORERS  IN  1789.  433 

Aged  101  years  9  months  and  seven  days.  She  was 
mother  of  13  children,  and  grandmother,  and  great¬ 
grandmother.  and  great-great-grandmother  of  375  per¬ 
sons.’ 

“  She  retained  her  faculties  to  the  last,  and  could  see 
to  thread  a  needle,  and  read  without  spectacles,  when  in 
her  101st  year.”* 

Daniel  Combs  entered  the  traveling  connection  in 
1787,  but  was  never  received  into  full  connection  in  the 
Conference. 

William  Jackson  entered  the  traveling  connection 
in  1789,  and  was  appointed  to  Burlington.  In  1790  he 
was  sent  to  Bethel  circuit ;  we  do  not  learn  his  appoint¬ 
ment  for  1791 ;  in  1792  he  located. 

Richard  Swain  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  en¬ 
tered  the  itinerant  ministry  in  1789.  He  traveled  the 
following  circuits  respectively:  1789,  Trenton;  1790— 
91,  Flanders;  1792,  Middletown,  Connecticut;  1793, 
New  London;  1794,  Salem,  New  Jersey;  1795,  Bur¬ 
lington;  1796,  Freehold;  1797,  Trenton;  1798,  Free¬ 
hold;  1799-1800,  Salem;  1801,  Bethel;  1802,  Cape 
May ;  1803,  Salem.  From  1804  to  1808  he  was  a 
supernumerary.  On  the  17th  of  January  of  the  latter 
year  he  died  “  in  confident  peace,  triumphant  faith,  and 
smiles  of  a  present  God.” 

*  Communication  from  Rev.  H.  B.  Beegle. 


434  MEMORIALS  OE  METHODISM  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 

He  was  endowed  by  nature  with  quick  and  solid  parts, 
and  sometimes  gave  evidence  of  possessing  wit,  which 
gleamed  out  pleasantly  in  his  preaching  and  conversa¬ 
tion.  He  maintained  an  unexceptionable  character  as  a 
minister,  and  his  labors  were  productive  of  good.  “  He 
traveled,”  say  his  brethren,  “  in  the  extreme  parts  of 
the  work  before  things  were  made  ready  to  his  hands, 
and  bore  a  part  of  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day. 

“  We  trust  that  he  was  made  perfect  through  suffering, 
and  triumphant  in  death.  And  possibly  it  requires 
more  faith  and  fortitude  to  wear  out  in  a  confirmed  af¬ 
fliction,  and  a  state  of  dependence,  than  to  go  through 
the  most  extreme  labor  and  sufferings  in  the  field  of  ac¬ 
tion.  It  must  be  exceedingly  painful  for  a  person  ac¬ 
customed  to  extensive  traveling  to  be  bound  and  fettered 
by  affliction,  as  a  prisoner  of  Divine  Providence ;  and, 
in  a  great  degree,  cut  off  from  the  service  of  God,  his 
worship,  and  all  Christian  fellowship  ;  not  only  as  a 
minister,  but  as  a  member  of  society.  Thus  some  souls 
are  tried  in  the  furnace  of  affliction.  Deep  calleth  unto 
deep  !  The  raging  billows  go  over  them :  but  they  will 
soon  reach  the  peaceful  shore;  gain  their  haven,  the  rest 
of  the  weary  and  afflicted,  the  palace  of  angels  and  God, 
where,  with  new  powers,  they  will  see  the  rising  glory, 
and  sing  forever  the  praise  of  Jesus,  their  Lord ! 


THE  WORK  AND  THE  LABORERS  IN  1789.  435 

“  Oh  !  what  are  all  my  sufferings  here, 

If,  Lord,  thou  count  me  meet 
With  that  enraptured  host  t’  appear, 

And  worship  at  thy  feet  !”* 

Kind  and  patient  reader,  my  task  is  done.  May  it  be 
fraught  with  as  much  blessing  to  thee  as  it  has  been  with 
toil,  and  care,  and  pleasure  to  me.  May  the  examples 
of  Christian  fidelity  and  zeal,  and  of  ministerial  heroism, 
herein  so  imperfectly  portrayed,  incite  thee  to  an  intenser 
devotion,  and  to  more  abundant  and  successful  labors 
for  God  and  humanity ;  and  then  shall  my  labor  not  be  in 
vain. 

*  Minutes,  1808. 


/  ■  ' 


* 


■ 


:  HT 


METHODIST  BOOK  STORE 

AND 


PERKINPINE  &  HIGGINS, 

No.  56  North  Fourth  St.,  Philadelphia. 

Have  constantly  on  hand  the  Publications  of  the 

METHODIST  BOOK  CONCERN 

in  large  quantities,  which  they  offer  wholesale  and  retail  at 
New  York  prices;  together  with  an  extensive  collection  of 

THEOLOGICAL,  HISTORICAL,  SCIENTIFIC,  AND  MISCELLA¬ 
NEOUS  BOOKS. 

SABBATH-SCHOOL  LIBRARIES,  REWARDS, 
AND  REQUISITES! 

They  would  respectfully  call  attention  to  their  large,  varied, 
and  select  assortment  of 

BOOKS,  CERTIFICATES,  CARDS,  PICTURES,  ETC., 

calculated  to  make  the  Sabbath-school  attractive  and  inte¬ 
resting. 

THE  MORAL  AND  RELIGIOUS  CHARACTER  OF  EVERY  BOOK 

IS  GUARANTEED, 

their  miscellaneous  selections  being  made  with  great  care,  and 
with  special  reference  to  adaptation  to  Methodist  schools. 

With  hearty  thanks  to  their  numerous  regular  customers 
for  past  favors,  they  trust  by  careful  and  prompt  attention,  to 
merit  the  continuance  of  their  patronage.  Sabbath-school 
Committees  and  Superintendents  will  find  it  to  their  interest  to 
call  and  examine  for  themselves,  before  purchasing  elsewhere. 


A  BOOK  FOR  EVERY  CHRISTIAN!!! 


REMARKABLE  PROVIDENCES, 

ILLUSTRATING  THE  DIVINE  GOVERNMENT, 

Collected  and  arranged  by  Rev.  S.  Higgins 
and  Rev.  W.  II.  Brisbane.  With  an  In¬ 
troductory  Essay  on  Providence,  by  Rev. 
Jos.  Castle,  d.d.  12mo.,  425  pp.  Price  $1. 

Many  a  child  of  God  will  find  in  it  needed  consolation  and 
guidance.  It  cannot  fail  to  do  much  good. — IV.  Y  Chris.  Ad. 

The  providences  related  show  in  the  clearest  light  God’s 
care  over  his  people,  and  his  terrible  judgments  against  sin, 
and  can  scarcely  fail  to  affect  the  heart,  make  a  lasting  im¬ 
pression  on  the  memory,  and  exert  a  salutary  influence  over 
the  life. —  Western  Christian  Advocate. 

The  volume  maybe  read  with  much  profit. —  Cecil  Democrat. 

It  is  the  most  intensely  interesting  book  we  ever  read. — 
Brownsville  Times. 

No  minister  should  be  without  it;  the  array  of  facts  ad¬ 
duced  to  support  the  doctrine  of  a  special  Providence  appears 
complete. — Eastern  Star. 

A  highly  interesting  volume  for  the  general  reader;  and 
especially  interesting  for  youth. —  Cecil  Whig. 

It  will  do  much  to  correct  the  prevalent  lukewarm  notions 
about  Providence.  Here  are  soul-cheering  facts. — Baltimore 
Christian  Advocate. 

The  record  of  such  providences  confirms  the  view  of  God’s 
special  superintendence  and  care  over  all  His  creatures,  given 
in  His  Word.  His  providences,  like  His  other  works,  are 
wonderful. —  Christian  Observer. 

Its  illustrations  should  not  fail  to  convince  the  reader  that 
there  is  a  God  of  Providence,  and  that  the  events  of  time  are 
not  the  result  of  blind  chance. — Presbyterian. 

The  contents  of  the  volume  are  well  selected  and  well  ar¬ 
ranged.  — Allen toivn  Democrat. 

Buy  it  the  first  opportunity.  It  may  be  worth,  under  God, 
a  thousand  times  its  price  to  you. — Rev.  John  F.  Wright  of 
Cin  c  inn  a  t  i  Con  ference. 

Sent ,  post-paid,  on  receipt  of  retail  price.  A  liberal  discount 
to  wholesale  purchasers. 


VALUABLE  WORKS 


RECENTLY  ISSUED. 


A.  Voice  from  the  Pious  Dead  of  the 
Medical  Profeffion ; 

Or,  Memoirs  of  Eminent  Physicians  who  have  fallen  asleep  in  Jesus;  with 
a  Preliminary  Dissertation  on  the  Cross  as  the  Key  to  all  Knowledge. 
By  Hknry  J.  Brown,  A.  M.,  M.  D.  Price,  90  cts. 

NOTICES. 


From  Thomas  E.  Bond,  M.  D.,  Editor 
Christian  Advocate  <£  Journal.  New  York. 
— *  *  *  *  *  We  hail  with  joy  the  work  be¬ 
fore  us.  The  author  has  done  good  ser¬ 
vice  by  showing  examples  of  Christian 
belief  and  practice  among  the  most  emi¬ 
nent  of  the  faculty,  both  in  Europe  and 
America.  We  especially  recommend  this 
work  to  our  brethren  of  the  Medical  Pro¬ 
fession.  They  will  find,  especially  in  the 
dissertations  which  precede  the  Memoirs, 
a  fair  exhibition  of  the  peculiar  difficulties 
which  the  study  and  practice  of  medicine 
and  surgery  present  to  the  theory  of 
Christianity ;  and  are  able  and  satisfactory 
solutions  of  these  difficulties. 

From  G.  C.  M.  Roberts,  il.D..  Baltimore. — 
After  having  carefully  read  the  book,  and 
re-read  portions  of  it,  with  increased  inte¬ 
rest,  I  take  grout  pleasure  in  returning 
you  my  sincere  thanks  for  affording  me 
the  opportunity,  through  you,  of  com¬ 
mending  it  most  earnestly  to  the  commu¬ 
nity  at  large,  and  to  the  members  of  the 
Medical  Profession  in  particular.  At  this 
particular  juncture,  when  strenuous 
efforts  are  in  progress  for  the  purpose  of 
elevating  the  standard  of  medical  educa¬ 
tion  throughout  the  land,  this  excellent 
Memoir  of  some  nmong  the  most  distin¬ 
guished  physicians,  who  have  died  in 
Christ,  appears  most  opportunely.  I  trust 
you  will  be  successful  in  placing  a  copy  of 
it  in  the  librarj  of  every  melical  man  in 
cur  country;  where  it  will  not  only  prove 
the  means  of  spiritual  benefit  to  pre¬ 
ceptors,  but  likewise  to  those  who  may  be 
under  their  supei  vision. 

From,  the  Bor/. on  Medical  (f:  Surgical 
Journal. — This  volume  is  written  with  a 
view  “to  refute  a  charge  of  incompati¬ 
bility  between  the  Christian  religion  and 
science,  sometimes  made  by  wicked  and 


ignorant  persons.”  It  contains  three  short 
Dissertations  on  the  subjects  of  The  Cross 
in  the  Life-Union,  The  Cross  in  Nature, 
and  The  Cross  in  Medicine;  which  are  fol¬ 
lowed  by  Memoirs  of  Win.  Hey,  Dr.  JT'pe, 
Dr.  Good,  Dr.  Bateman,  Dr.  Godmau  Dr. 
Gordon,  Dr.  Broughton,  and  Dr.  Capadose. 
The  Dissertations  are  intended  “as  an  in¬ 
centive  to  inquiry  suggestive  of  a  form.” 
The  Memoirs  are  interesting;  and  fully 
prove,  what  hardly  requires  proof,  that 
there  is  nothing  in  science  which  tends  to 
lessen  men’s  faith  in  the  Divine  doctrines 
of  the  Christian  llevelation.  or  deter  them 
from  fulfilling  all  its  obligations.  Dr. 
Brown’s  book  will  doubtless  be  read  with 
interest  by  many  who  are  not  members  of 
the  profession,  as  well  as  by  physicians. 

From  the  Christian  Observer,  Philadel¬ 
phia. — It  affords  us  pleasure  to  call  atten¬ 
tion  to  this  interesting  volume.  It  con¬ 
tains  an  impressive  argument  lor  the  truth 
and  excellence  of  the  Gospel,  drawn  from 
the  lives  of  scientific  men.  It  shows  that 
faith  in  the  teaching  of  the  Scriptures  is 
not  merely  a  persuasion,  hut  a  power, 
stronger  than  the  innate  passions  of  our 
nature — a  Divine  power  manifested  in  the 
ivevelopment  of  all  that  is  pure  and  lovely 
and  of  good  report  in  real  life.  The 
memorials  of  these  excellent  men  show 
conclusively,  that  science  and  religion  are 
not.  as  a  few  sciolists  have  imagined,  in¬ 
compatible  with  each  other.  The  Preli¬ 
minary  Dissertation  is  rich  in  thought, 
suggestive,  adapted  to  awaken  inquiry  on 
the  most  important  subject. 

From  the  Western  Christian  Advocate , 
Cincinnati. — No  hook  of  a  similar  charac¬ 
ter  is  before  the  American  public,  and  we 
trust  it  will  find  a  good  sale,  not  among 
physicians  merely,  but  among  all  lovers 
of  healthy,  religious  biography. 

2 


PERKINPINE  &  HIGGINS’S  PUBLICATIONS. 


From  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate. 
— The  narral  ive  of  the  closing  scenes  in  the 
lifo  of  Ur.  Gordon,  of  Hull,  is  of  itself 
worth  double  the  price  of  the  book.  Medi¬ 
cal  men,  whose  time  is  necessarily  en¬ 
grossed  with  professional  engagements, 
will  appreciate  the  aim  of  the  author  in 
collecting  and  condensing  more  extended 
memoirs  of  their  worthy  brothers  in  simi¬ 
lar  toils ;  and  when  they  would  not  take 
up  a  long  and  laboured  production,  they 
can  find  in  this  volume  that  which  will 
refresh  and  strengthen  in  the  midst  of 
their  unceasing  labours.  Ministers  and 
others,  who  sometimes  wish  to  testify  their 
high  appreciation  of  the  faithful  services  of 
the  physician,  will  recognise  in  this  volume 
a  testimonial  which  cannot  but  be  regarded 
as  beautiful,  appropriate,  and  valuable. 

From  the  Christian  Chronicle,  Philadel¬ 
phia. — The  object  of  these  pages  is  to  show 
that  there  is  a  harmony  between  religion 
and  science.  It  is  decidedly  a  religious 
book,  abounding  with  the  most  useful 
lessons  from  the  highest  authority.  The 
Dissertation  that  precedes  is  a  valuable 
production,  much  enhancing  the  value  of 
the  work. 


From  the  National  Magazine.  New  York 
and  Cincinnati. — We  commend  the  vo¬ 
lume  to  the  general  reader  ;  while,  in  the 
language  of  the  preface,  “  To  medical  men 
of  every  class,  these  Memoirs  come  with 
singular  force,  involving,  as  they  do,  the 
modes  of  thought,  the  associations,  and 
the  difficulties  common  to  the  medical 
profession.  Their  testimony  is  as  the 
united  voice  of  brethren  of  the  same  toils, 
proclaiming  a  heavenly  rest  to  the  weary 
pilgrim.  It  comes,  too,  unembarrassed 
with  any  considerations  of  interest,  or 
mere  purpose  of  sect  or  calling.” 

From  Jttev.  J.  F.  Berg ,  D.  D. — The  seleo- 
tion  of  a  number  of  Memoirs  of  Physi¬ 
cians  eminent  for  their  piety,  who  have 
adorned  their  profession  ill  our  own  coun¬ 
try  and  in  other  lands,  as  examples  of  tho 
living  power  of  piety,  is  itself  a  happy 
thought;  and  the  primary  Dissertation  on 
the  Cross  as  the  Key  to  all  Knowledge 
will  suggest  valuable  reflections  to  the 
mind  of  the  thoughtful  reader.  It  is  an 
able  presentation  of  the  great  theme  of 
the  Cross  of  Christ  as  the  foundation  of 
all  genuine  science. 


The  Bible  Defended  againft  the  Ob¬ 
jections  of  Infidelity. 

Being  an  Examination  of  the  Scientific,  Historical,  Chronological,  and 
other  Scripture  Difficulties.  By  R,ev.  Wm.  II.  Brisbane.  Price,  50  cts. 


NOT 

From  the  Western  Christian  Advocate. — 
The  work  is  on  a  plan  somewhat  original, 
and  meets  a  want  long  felt  by  Sabbath 
School  Teachers  and  Scholars,  private 
Christians  and  others.  We  can  most 
heartily  commend  the  little  manual  to  all 
seeking  the  truth  as  it  is  in  the  Gospel  of 
Christ. 

From  the  Christian  Advocate  <t:  Journal. 
— The  author,  in  the  body  of  his  work, 
commencing  with  the  account  of  the  Cre¬ 
ation,  as  given  in  the  book  of  Genesis, 
goes  through  the  principal  facts  recorded 
in  the  Old  and  New  Testaments,  stating 
and  answering  the  objections  of  infidelity 
cogently  and  logically,  bringing  to  his  aid 
the  result  of  extensive  reading  and  patient 
investigation.  It  is  a  small  book, — so 
small  that  none  will  be  deterred  from 
reading  it  by  its  size:  yet  it  condenses  the 
most  general  objections  to  the  Bible,  with 
a  clear  statement  of  the  refutation  of 
them,  by  the  best  authors  who  have  writ¬ 
ten  ou  tho  subject. 

34* 


C  E  S. 

From  the  National  Magazine. — A  small 
but  good  review  of  the  chief  infidel  objec¬ 
tions  to  the  Bible  has  been  published  by 
Higgins  &  Perkinpine.  It  is  by  Itev.  W. 
II.  Brisbane,  and  examines  the  scientific, 
historical,  chronological,  and  other  diffi¬ 
culties  alleged  against  the  Scriptures.  It 
is  especially  adapted  to  meet  the  wants  of 
Sunday  School  and  Bible  Class  Teachers. 

From  the  Easton  Star. — The  title  page 
indicates  tho  character  of  this  little  vo¬ 
lume,  which  has  evidently  been  prepared 
with  great  care,  by  one  who  appears  to 
have  thoroughly  investigated  the  subject, 
and  whose  researches  well  qualify  him  to 
elucidate  the  difficult  questions  reviewed. 
The  style  is  chaste,  perspicuous,  and  com¬ 
prehensive,  and  the  volume  replete  with 
original  thoughts  and  pertinent  quota¬ 
tions  from  the  first  biblical  and  scientific 
authors,  to  support  the  Divine  authority 
of  the  Scriptures  and  refute  the  objection! 
of  sceptics.  The  book  contains  in  a  nut¬ 
shell  most  of  the  points  of  difference  bo 

3 


PERKINPINE  &  HIGGINS’S  PUBLICATIONS. 


tween  infidels  and  Christians,  and  should 
lie  read  by  all  who  experience  any  diffi¬ 
culty  in  reconciling  those  texts  of  Scrip¬ 
ture  that  are  in  apparent  conflict,  but 
which  accord  in  beautiful  harmony  when 
explained  by  their  contexts,  and  other 


subjects  to  which  they  relate.  We  take 
pleasure  in  commending  it  to  those  read¬ 
ers  who  have  not  the  time  to  investigate 
heavier  works,  as  a  book  that  will  amply 
repay  a  careful  perusal. 


Lectures  on  the  Dodxine  of  Election. 

By  the  Rev.  A.  C.  Rutherford,  of  Greenock,  Scotland. 

Price,  50  cts. 

NOTICES 


From,  the  National  Magazine. — These 
Lectures  are  remarkable  for  logical  acute¬ 
ness  and  sagacity,  and  a  comprehensive 
knowledge  of  the  subject.  There  is  a 
strong  spice  of  Scottish  acerbity,  too,  in 
their  style.  Armiuian  polemics  will  re¬ 
ceive  this  volume  as  among  the  ablest 
vindication  of  their  views  produced  in 
modern  times. 

From  Rev.  Bishop  Scott. — I  have  care¬ 
fully  read  through  your  late  publication, 
entitled  “  Lectures  on  the  Doctrine  of 
Election,  by  Alexander  C.  Rutherford,  of 
Scotland,”  which  you  were  kind  enough 
to  put  into  my  hands.  I  am  very  much 
pleased  with  it.  It  is  an  admirable  book. 
It  refutes  the  Calvinistic  theories  on  this 
subject  with,  I  must  think,  unanswerable 
force  of  argument,  and  unfolds  and  exhi¬ 
bits  the  true  Bible  theory  with  clearness 
and  power.  And,  unlike  many  controver¬ 
sial  works,  it  is  a  very  readable  book. 
The  authors  style  is  so  clear,  so  natural, 
so  easy  and  flowing,  and  withal  so  ani¬ 
mated  and  forcible,  and  his  manner  and 
illustrations  so  interesting  and  striking, 
that  one  is  led  on  from  page  to  page,  and 
from  chapter  to  chapter,  not  only  without 
weariness,  but  with  increasing  interest. 
The  spirit  of  the  book,  too,  I  think,  is 
excellent,  independent,  frank,  candid, 
affectionate,  exhibiting  a  profound  regard 
for  the  unadulterated  teachings  of  the 
Bible,  and  a  yearning  love  for  souls.  The 
author,  indeed,  sometimes  uses  harsh 


words,  but  almost  only  of  theories  and 
systems  and  dogmas — seldom,  indeed,  of 
persons.  lie  treats  his  opponents  with 
Christian  courtesy,  occasionally  only  re¬ 
buking  them  sharply,  while  he  deals  with 
a  fearless  and  unsparing  hand  with  their 
false  and  soul-destroying  errors.  This 
book  ought  to  be  sown  broadcast  over  the 
land.  I  could  wish  that  a  copy  of  it 
should  go  into  every  family;  especially  at 
this  time,  when  there  seems  a  disposition 
iu  certain  quarters  to  force  on  us  again 
this  wretched  Calvinistic  controversy. 

From  Zion’s  Herald. — The  author  of 
this  work  is  a  Scotch  clergyman,  who  was 
formerly  a  Calvinist,  but  who,  by  honestly 
seeking  the  truth  as  revealed  in  God’s 
Word,  was  led  to  embrace  the  more  Scrip¬ 
tural  tenets  of  the  Arminian  school.  Hav¬ 
ing  first  spread  his  views  before  the  reli¬ 
gious  public  at  Greenock  and  Glasgow,  in 
a  series  of  lectures  delivered  in  1847,  he 
afterwards  gave  them  to  the  world  iu  form 
of  a  book,  which  is  now,  for  the  first  time, 
reprinted  in  America.  Bating  some  few 
inferior  points  of  doctrine,  we  think  the 
work  to  be  a  sound,  strong,  and  vigorous 
expose  of  the  Calvinistic  theory.  It  is 
finely  adapted  for  popular  circulation ; 
could  it  be  scattered  broadcast,  it  would 
doubtless  aid  in  extirpating  the  stubborn 
errors  of  that  theory  from  such  portions 
of  the  community  as  are  still  afflicted  by 
its  presence. 


The  Sunday  School  Speaker; 

Or,  Exercises  for  Anniversaries  and  Celebrations  :  Consisting  of  Addresses. 
Dialogues,  Recitations,  Bible  Class  Lessons,  Hymns,  &o.  Adapted  to 
the  various  subjects  to  which  Sabbath  School  Efforts  are  directed.  By 
Rev.  John  Kennadat,  D.  D.  Price,  38  eta. 


4 


In  Preparation,  and  to  appear  from  the  Press  of  Perkinpine  &  Higgins, 
No.  56  North  Fourth  Street,  Philadelphia. 


JOHN  ALBERT  BENGEL’S 


GNOMON 

OF 


THE  NEW  TESTAMENT. 

POINTING  OUT 

FROM  THE  NATURAL  FORCE 

OF  THE 

WORDS,  THE  SIMPLICITY,  DEPTH,  HARMONY, 

AND 

SAYING  POWER  of  its  DIVINE  THOUGHTS. 


A  NEW  TRANSLATION 

BY 

CHARLTON  T.  LEWIS,  A.  M. 

Prof,  of  Pure  Mathematics  in  Troy  University. 


In  two  Vols.  Svo.  of  at  least  800  pages  each.  Price  $5  00.  Vol.  I.  will 
be  ready  in  June,  1860.  Vol.  II.  in  a  few  months  thereafter. 


The  following  are  but  a  few  of  many  commendatory  opi¬ 
nions  of  the  original  work  : — 

“I  once  designed  to  write  down  barely  what  occurred  to 
my  own  mind,  consulting  none  but  the  inspired  writers.  But 
no  sooner  was  I  acquainted  with  that  great  light  of  the  Chris¬ 
tian  world,  lately  gone  to  his  reward,  Bengelius,  than  I  en¬ 
tirely  changed  my  design,  being  thoroughly  convinced  it 
might  be  of  more  service  to  the  cause  of  religion,  were  I 
barely  to  translate  his  Gnomon  Novi  Testamenti,  than  to 
write  many  volumes  upon  it.” — John  Wesley,  Explanatory 
Notes,  p.  4,  Preface. 

“  The  persons  whose  concurrence  I  should  have  most  highly 
prized  are  precisely  those  in  whom  the  exposition  of  Bengel, 
to  which  also  I  owe  more  than  to  any  other  for  the  explana¬ 
tion  of  particular  passages,  has  taken  deepest  root;  insomuch 
that  an  attack  on  it,  which  has  made  the  Revelation  dear  and 
precious  to  them,  will  scarcely  be  regarded  by  them  in  any 
other  light  than  as  an  attack  on  the  Revelation  itself.” — 
Hengstenberg,  Revelation,  Preface. 

“  Bengel,  in  one  of  the  pregnant  notes  in  his  invaluable 
Gnomon — a  work  which  manifests  the  most  intimate  and 
profoundest  knowledge  of  Scripture,  and  which,  if  we  exa¬ 
mine  it  with  care,  will  often  be  found  to  condense  more  mat¬ 
ter  into  a  line,  than  can  be  extracted  from  pages  of  other 
writers,  says,”  &c.  *  *  *  “  In  this  microscopic  nicety  of  ob¬ 
servation,  which,  as  we  have  seen,  will  often  detect  important 
fibres  of  thought,  no  commentator  that  I  know  comes  near 
Bengel.” — Archdeacon  Hare,  Mission  of  the  Comforter, 
vol.  ii.  p.  403. 

“  Bengel  was  endowed  with  a  remarkable  depth  of  insight 
and  breadth  of  mental  view,  together  with  a  marvelous  con¬ 
ciseness  and  felicity  of  expression.  lie  makes  every  word 
of  the  Bible  utter  some  truth  you  never  thought  was  in  it, 
and  leaves  you  wondering  why  you  had  not  seen  it  before. 
Under  the  touch  of  his  magic  pen.  even  the  genealogical 
tables  of  the  Evangelists,  which  we  have  been  accustomed  to 
pass  by  as  dry  and  marrowless  bones,  are  set  before  us  full 
of  fatness.” — Methodist  Quarterly  Review,  1859,  p.  665, 

The  Publishers  have  no  doubt,  that  all  lovers  of  choice  re¬ 
ligious  and  theological  literature  will  appreciate  the  work,  the 
mechanical  execution  of  which  they  promise  shall  be  in  the 
best  style.  Early  orders  are  solicited. 


PERKINPINE  &  HIGGINS, 

BOOKSELLERS  &  PUBLISHERS, 

Ho.  56  Horth  Fourth  Street, 

PHILADELPHIA. 

Retai 

Price. 

Tlie  Triumph  of  Truth  and  Continental  Letters  and 

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with  an  Introduction  by  Rev.  Jos.  Castle,  D.  D., . $1  00 

Voices  from  the  Pious  Dead  of  the  Medical  Profession,  or  Memoirs  of 
.Eminent  Physicians  who  have  fallen  asleep  in  Jesus.  By  Ilenry  J.  Brown, 

A.  M.,  M.  D.,  .....  •  .  9o 

Odd  Fellowship  examined  in  the  Light  of  Scripture  and  Reason,  .  50 

Tiio  Bible  Defended  against  tile  Objections  of  Infidelity. 

By  Rev.  W.  II.  Brisbane.  .  50 

Tbe  Stone  and  the  Image  ;  or  the  American  Republic  the  Bane  and  Ruin 

of  Despotism.  By  Rev.  Jos.  F.  Berg,  D.  D., .  60 

Prophecy  and  the  Times  ;  or  England  and  Armageddon.  By  Rev.  Jos. 

E.  Berg,  D.  D.,  .  50 

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Sunday  School  Speaker  ;  or  Exercises  for  Anniversaries  and  Celebrations. 
Adapted  to  tbe  various  subjects  to  which  Sabbath  School  efforts  are  directed. 

By  Rev.  John  Kenuaday,  D.  D., .  38 

Remarkable  Providences  Illustrating  the  Divine  Govern¬ 
ment.  By  Rev.  S.  lliggins  &  Rev.  W.  H.  Brisbane,  with  an  Introductory 

Essay  on  Providence,  by  Rev.  Jos.  Castle,  D.D., . 1  00 

A  Synopsis  of  the  Moral  Theology  of  Peter  Dens,  as  prepared 
for  the  use  of  Romish  Seminaries  and  Students  of  Theology.  Translated  by 

Rev.  Jos.  F.  Berg,  D.  D., . 1  25 

Doing  Good,  or  the  Christian  in  Walks  of  Usefulness.  By  Rev.  Robert  Steel,  of 

Manchester,  ....  .  .  ..  75 

Select  Melodies.  Comprising  the  best  Hymns  and  Spiritual  Songs  in  Com¬ 
mon  use,  and  not  generally  found  in  Church  Hymn  Books.  By  Rev.  W.  Hunter,  40 
The  Minstrel  of  Zion.  A  Book  of  Religious  Songs,  accompanied  with  ap- 
■  propriate  Music,  chiefly  original.  By  Rev.  Wm.  Hunter  and  Rev.  Samuel  Wake¬ 
field,  .  38 

Lectures  on  the  Doctrine  of  Election.  By  Alex.  C.  Rutherford,  of 

Greenock,  Scotland,  .  50 

Lectures  on  the  Iteign  of  Satan.  In  which  he  is  proven  to  be  the 

God  of  this  World  and  the  Prince  of  All  Nations.  By  Rev.  Russel  Reneau,  40 
Duties,  Tests  and  Comforts.  By  Rev.  Dayton  F.  Reed,  of  the  Newark 

Annual  Conference.  With  an  Introduction.  By  Rev.  John  McClintock,  D.  D.  60 
Clark’s  Scripture  Promises.  Being  a  Collection  of  the  Sweet  Assuring 

Promises  of  Scripture,  or  the  Believer’s  Inheritance.  By  Samuel  Clark,  D.  D.,  30 

Gilt,  45 

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